Keeping a Democratic Web  —  "Net neutrality" is a concept that is still unfamiliar to most Americans, but it keeps the Internet democratic.  Cable and telephone companies that provide Internet service are talking about creating a two-tiered Internet, in which Web sites that pay them large fees would get priority over everything else.

White Guilt and the Western Past  —  Why is America so delicate with the enemy?  —  There is something rather odd in the way America has come to fight its wars since World War II.  —  For one thing, it is now unimaginable that we would use anything approaching the full measure of our military power …

Libby Versus The Press  —  Libby's team continues their tussle with the press.  I intend to post the documents shortly. … Hmm, I am looking at more than 45 pages here.  —  1. Here is Part 1 of the Consolidated response (23 page .pdf)  —  2. Here is Part 2 (27 page .pdf)

FACT CHECK: U.S. Government Commissioned Spanish-Language 'Star-Spangled Banner' in 1919  —  The right wing is up in arms over a new version of the Star-Spangled Banner written in Spanish.  Last week President Bush stated that "the national anthem ought to be sung in English."

THE PICTURES YOU WON'T SEE  —  ***updated 5/2 940am EDT...***  —  Compare the NYTimes' white-washed May Day photo section with these candid shots of yesterday's National Day to Hate the Yanquis:  —  Protest Warrior Chicago exposed ugly, American flag-trashing advocates...

Iran says Russia and China will not back sanctions  —  TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister was quoted on Tuesday as saying that Russia and China had officially informed Tehran they would not support sanctions or military action over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.

Walkout Ends at University of Miami as Janitors' Pact Is Reached  —  After a sit-in, hunger strikes and a nine-week walkout, janitors at the University of Miami decided yesterday to return to work, as the university's cleaning contractor reached a settlement with the Service Employees International Union.

Teenagers and Adults: The Emerging Anti-Netroots Narrative  —  These days, so much is written about the netroots it is hard to keep track.  However, two very recent articles by Democratic insiders caught my eye.  First, Mike McCurry:  —  You can see in blog commentary lots of great huffing …

New Army documents reveal US knew of and approved torture before Abu Ghraib scandal  —  New Army documents released by the American Civil Liberties Union today reveal that Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez ordered interrogators to "go to the outer limits" to get information from detainees.

The Self-Inflicted Wounds of the Academic Left  —  Truly this is a bizarre time for the life of the mind in America.  The airwaves and best-seller lists are noisy with anti-intellectual jeers.  The ruling party embraces the nostrums of "No Child Left Behind" while tossing the teaching …

Sour news for GOP in poll  —  WASHINGTON — Six months before Republicans try to hold on to control of Congress in the fall elections, a new poll shows President Bush has slid to the lowest approval rating of his presidency, and a majority of voters say they'll vote for Democrats in November.

Why Zarqawi Is All Alone  —  May 2, 2006: Without much fanfare or publicity, American and British commandoes have taken apart al Qaeda's operation in Iraq.  About the only non-Iraqi al Qaeda leader left in Iraq is military leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi, a Jordanian.

Iran will hit Israel if US does "evil": agency  —Text+TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will target Israel first if the United States does anything "evil", a senior commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday.  —  The United States says it wants Iran's nuclear standoff …

How Bad Is Inflation in Zimbabwe?  —  HARARE, Zimbabwe, April 25 — How bad is inflation in Zimbabwe?  Well, consider this: at a supermarket near the center of this tatterdemalion capital, toilet paper costs $417.  —  No, not per roll.  Four hundred seventeen Zimbabwean dollars is the value of a single two-ply sheet.

Bolivian President Seizes Gas Industry  —  Troops Deployed In Move to Block Foreign Influence  —  CARACAS, Venezuela, May 1 — Bolivian President Evo Morales seized control of the country's natural gas industry Monday, sending soldiers to occupy fields that he contends private companies have plundered for years.