In the News: May-15

Congress passes farm bill with veto-proof margin - 15 May 2008 at 1:26pm - WASHINGTON -- With veto-proof margins, Congress on Thursday sent President Bush a bill boosting farm subsidies and money for food stamps to help the poor deal with rising grocery prices.

California Supreme Court says same-sex couples have right to marry - 15 May 2008 at 1:18pm - Gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to marry in California, the state Supreme Court said today in a historic ruling that could be repudiated by the voters in November. In a 4-3 decision, the justices said the state's ban on same-sex marriage violates the "fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship." The ruling is likely to flood county courthouses with applications from couples newly eligible to marry when the decision takes effect in 30 days.

Bush calls possible talks with Iran 'appeasement' - 15 May 2008 at 11:09am - JERUSALEM — President Bush took the occasion of Israel's 60th anniversary on Thursday to denounce calls for the United States to talk to Iran and other radical forces in the region as "appeasement" and a "foolish delusion."

But there's nothing foolishly delusional about the idea that if the U.S. ignores it for long enough, Iran will eventually do whatever it is the U.S. hopes it will do?

Gates urges more nongovernment contacts with Iran - 15 May 2008 at 1:38pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates called on Wednesday for more unofficial contacts with Iran, saying this might eventually open a pathway to more substantive dialogue between the governments.

Thought for the day:
In peace, children inter their parents; war violates the order of nature and causes parents to inter their children. -Herodotus (484 BC - 430 BC), The Histories of Herodotus