Daily Archive for June 7th, 2006

Gorbachev to the rescue

Vladimir Putin just acquired an interesting opponent in his war against free speech and human rights when Mikhail Gorbachev and a Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev bought a 49% stake in the only major Russian newspaper that’s openly criticizing Putin’s dictatorship.

Novaya Gazeta is a newspaper whose staff consists largely of journalists fired from other media outlets by Putin and his cronies because of the journalists’ critical coverage of Putin’s dictatorship.

The newspaper has gained a powerful ally in Mikhail Gorbachev. It’s unlikely the Putin dictatorship dare meddle with the newspaper that has him as a financial backer.

I’ve written about the Russian human rights violations before:
The IHF issues a stinging report on human rights situation in the Republic of Mari El
Mari-El activists still persecuted in Russia
The people of Mari being systematically persecuted by Russians

-TPP

Hell freezes over – I agree with Lou Dobbs on something

Lou Dobbs rips the (pseudo-)conservative Republicans a new one over the idiotic pandering constitutional amendment initiative to ban gay marriage. He says:

It’s an insult to the intelligence of every voter, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative.

Couldn’t agree more.

-TPP

Barry Manilow gets unusual airtime in Aussieland

Got hoons? Barry Manilow to the rescue!

Copa. . Copacabana
Copa Copacabana Copacabana, ahh ahh ahh ahh
Ahh ahh ahh ahh Copa Copacabana

-TPP