morning constitutional

Good morning, folks. Marilyn Manson and Evan Rachel Wood have called off their engagement. Now, your morning constitutional: Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was found guilty of one charge, making false statements to the FBI, but the jury was hung on the other 23 charges facing Blagojevich. Despite the fact that congress rushed to get aid to states to prevent them from having to fire teachers, many large school districts are holding off rehiring and saving the money to offset future budget deficits. President Obama’s incredible winning streak. How Democrats are having trouble celebrating their historic achievements....

Good morning, everybody. Tila Tequila was attacked on-stage by stones, bottles and various other things at the annual Gathering of the Juggalos festival in Illinois. Now, your morning constitutional: In Pakistan, one-fifth of which is under water due to horrific flooding, water-borne diseases such as typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis and cholera may bring further tragedy. At least 59 were killed by a suicide bomber at an army recruitment center in Baghdad. Five months after the election, with no government yet formed, coalition talks have been suspended after Nouri al-Maliki claimed the al-Iraqiya bloc, the winner of the most...

Good morning, everybody. Britney’s going to be on Glee this season. Now, your morning constitutional: Former Senator Ted Stevens died in a plane crash yesterday in Alaska at the age of 86. It was not his first plane crash—in fact, Alaska has a much higher aviation accident rate than the rest of the country. Why do so many planes crash in Alaska? The Census was 22% ($1.6B) under budget, and is returning the money to the government. President Obama signed into law a ban on cell phone use by federal prisoners. Rob Simmons is no longer running...

Good morning, folks. Levi is running for mayor in a new reality show. For real. Anyways, here’s your morning constitutional: More than 700 are dead due to a devastating landslide in the remote Zhouqu county, Gansu in northwest China. The House is back in session today to vote on a teacher and Medicaid package and a border security bill. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced some controversial budget-cutting proposals Monday, including completely getting rid of the U.S. Joint Forces Command. Fred Kaplan calls it a good start, but inadequate. The Federal Reserve is meeting today to discuss...

Good morning, everybody. Pop-Tarts World, a Pop-Tarts store, has opened in Times Square. Now, your morning constitutional: While the Obama administration has been deporting a record number of immigrants who have been convicted of crimes, students who came to the U.S. without documentation have for the most part been spared. Rwandans today are voting to elect their president, and incumbent Paul Kagame is expected to win by a landslide. How Paul Kagame has used the law to muzzle Rwanda’s media. Even with unemployment high, some companies are having trouble attracting applicants. Chrysler doing better, although not quite...

Good morning, everybody. Sandra Bullock is Hollywood’s highest-paid actress and Lily Allen is having a baby. Now, your morning constitutional: California “has no interest in differentiating between same-sex and opposite-sex unions,” ruled U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker, striking down California’s state ban on same-sex marriage. According to Walker, the ban violated the federal constitutional guarantees of equal protection and of due process. Some delightful initial responses to Walker’s ruling. The House will return to work next week to vote on the state aid package that passed the Senate this week. Transocean, the owner of the...

Good morning, everybody. Bristol and Levi broke off their engagement again. Now, your morning constitutional: BP announced Wednesday that the “static kill” effort to permanently seal off the spilling oil well in the Gulf has been so far successful. Also welcome news: According to White House energy adviser Carol Browner, almost three-quarters of the oil spilled in the Gulf has been captured, broken down, burned off, or evaporated. An election in Kenya today in a referendum on a new constitution which would limit the power of the president and settle land disputes that have caused violent conflict in...

Good morning, folks. Susan Boyle might be on Glee. Now, your morning constitutional: Lebanese and Israeli soldiers have exchanged fire on their shared border; each side has reported casualties. In the Northern Ireland city of Londonderry on Tuesday, an Irish Republican Army splinter group detonated a bomb in a hijacked taxi outside of a police station. Buildings were damaged but nobody was injured. The ethics charges against Reps. Waters and Rangle highlight Washington’s new vigilance in detecting indiscretions by members of Congress. Fifty-four percent of Americans want the Senate to confirm Elena Kagan’s nomination to the Supreme...

Good morning, everybody. After 14 days, Lindsay’s finally out of jail. Now, your morning constitutional: Rescuers having trouble reaching 27,000 people still stranded after Pakistan suffers some of the worst flooding it has experienced in decades. The floods are already responsible for over 1,100 deaths. An ongoing famine in Niger threatens millions of people who already suffer from food insecurity. A rocket that was likely aimed at an Israeli resort actually hits a nearby Jordanian resort, killing one and injuring four Jordanians. On the leaked Afghanistan documents and “war crimes.” According to a new national poll, Wyoming...

Good morning, everybody. Ellen’s leaving American Idol, and Diddy wants in. Now, your morning constitutional: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia are meeting in Beirut to work together to help stabilize Lebanon if a UN tribunal indicts members of the Hezbollah movement for the killing of Rafik Hariri. Republicans succeeded in filibustering a Senate bill that would create a $30B fund for small business lending. July has been the deadliest month for American troops since the beginning of the war nine years ago. Economic growth in the U.S. slowed to 2.4% in the...