The Rev. Billy Graham: "In the tradition of Presidents Jefferson, Adams and Monroe — who also passed on July Fourth — it is fitting that such a patriot (Jesse Helms) who fought for free markets and free people would die on Independence Day. As we celebrate the birth of our nation, I thank God for the blessings we enjoy, which Senator Helms worked so hard to preserve."

This "sentiment" is vomit-inducing, even from such as Billy Graham. Apparently the Reverend is confusing "free people" with "white people." In a 2001 column, even terminally-"moderate" Beltway denizen David Broder characterized Helms as "the last prominent unabashed white racist politician in this country."

Ten years ago Osama bin Laden proclaimed that he wanted to see the price of oil spike to $144 a barrel. At the time it sold for $11. The rise in oil prices is, to some degree connected to increased demand by players like China, but a key part of the picture is undoubtedly Osama bin Laden's successful baiting of Bush into a Middle East quagmire (that, ironically, has bolstered the regional fortunes of Iran more than our own) at enormous political and economic cost to the US.

Regarding the BushCo venture into Iraq specifically, Mamdouh Salameh, an oil economist and adviser to the World Bank and the UN Industrial Development Organisation, believes the oil would be trading at $40 a barrel, less than a third of the current price, if not for the Iraq war. (Oil production in Iraq is currently $2 million barrels a day, down from 3.5 million under Saddam - despite sanctions against the dictator that limited Iraqi oil flow.) Weakening of the dollar and massive increases in indebtedness add to the administration failures that make us more vulnerable to the vagaries of the oil markets.

Rather than use the tragic events of Sepember 11, 2001 to wake the American people to the perils of dependence on a volatile, potentially hostile Middle East for our energy needs and to reassert a major push toward alternatives and conservation - which a stricken, united country would have responded to mightily - President Bush signaled that the most important task of the citizenry in the wake of the attacks was renewed consumption. (I say "reassert" because the much-maligned Jimmy Carter had projected this priority a quarter century before.) Meanwhile, the Bush administration set its sights on digging even deeper holes for us in the Arab world. Who knows - they might have even believed that they'd get their hands on cheap oil via an aggressive - albeit incoherent - military strategy. Given the record of miscalculation and incompetence in pursuing the overthrow of Saddam, anything is possible.

But hubris has a price. Reality bit. And somewhere, someone is sitting in a cave, laughing. As oil hits $144 a barrell, Bin Laden can claim at least one mission accomplished.

Condolences to his family.

Rest in Peace, you racist, treason-in-defense-of-slavery advocate, right-wing dictator and torturer-lover, and  supporter of priest murderers and nun rapists.

What Matt said. What TBogg said.

May this be year that we get our beloved country back from those who believe in torture, an imperial presidency and a rubber-stamp congress!

I've exchanged e-mails with Brian Beutler a few times and I'm alternately shocked and relieved by this news. Get well soon.

I cannot describe how happy I am to know that Ingrid Betancourt and fourteen other people after so long will sleep under a roof in a warm bed free of fear, but free above all.

I believe that it is precisely because this was done through infiltration and deception and not through an assault that the damage to the FARC will be greater. They have lost a number of bargaining chips (I hate to use that word applied to people, but it's apt here), they know that they have been penetrated before and their level of paranoia will rise. This will only isolate and weaken them more. Good.

These two are:

Daniel Ortega and Arnaldo Aleman, a right-wing former president of Nicaragua and a self-proclaimed left-wing current president of Nicaragua, united by their desire for power and ass-covering.

I soured completely on Ortega when this happened:

President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua did some family shopping while in New York for the United Nations session. For bulletproof eyeglass lenses, $300 a pair sounds like a bargain, and considering all the different suits and combat fatigues he wears, six pairs are understandable.

Meanwhile, the three pairs of Gucci frames he bought for his wife, and three more Fioruccis for his daughter, can only contribute to family harmony.

Ordinary Nicaraguans, of course, must still bear rationing and shortages officially blamed on ''contra'' raids and the U.S. economic embargo, but they have at least gained a clear lesson from their President's eyeglass shopping spree (total bill $3,500). Say what you will about Nicaragua's new socialist order; rank hath its privileges.

His supporters from the 1980's, to no one's surprise, have also turned on him:

Dora María Téllez, leader of one of the parties, the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS), a breakaway group, staged a 12-day hunger strike to protest against the "dictatorship of Daniel Ortega", her former comrade. A legendary Sandinista guerrilla who led audacious strikes against the Somoza dictatorship in the 1970s, Tellez remains revered by many on the left.

The celebrities and intellectuals who backed the government in the 80s wrote an open letter in her support: "None of these demands is irrational and a government that wants popular support ought to respond to them. Political representation is a right. It is a right to protest against mechanisms that shut down this space. Dora Maria represents a broad sector of Nicaraguan society that ought to be listened to."

The letter was signed by: Chomsky, a US academic; the British novelist Rushdie; Jagger, a human rights activist and former actor; and several others, including writer Ariel Dorfman, journalists Eduardo Galeano and Mario Benedetti, and human rights campaigner Tom Hayden.

The public has also turned on him. A recent poll had 56% of the public rating his performance as bad or very bad. Unfortunately, they're stuck with him for another three years. It's all about the power for him and Aleman.

ds

Manuel Contreras, the intellectual author of the only act of state-sponsored terrorism to be committed in our nation's capitol, the assassination of Ronni Moffit and Orlando Letelier in September 1976, has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms for the murder of General Carlos Prats and his wife in Buenos Aires in 1974.

Prats was Pinochet's predecessor as commander of the Chilean army and fled to exile in Buenos Aires after the coup. He and his wife, Sofia, were killed in a car bombing on September 30, 1974. The blast was so violent that debris landed on the nonth floor balcony of a building across the street.

Contreras was the head of DINA, Pinochet's secret police unit and was reported to have breakfast with Pinochet in La Moneda on a daily basis. He's 79 years old. What a shame he and Pinochet never had the chance to dine at a prison cafeteria together. I'm sure when Contreras finally goes, he and Pinochet can roast marshmallows in hell together.

When we first moved into our apartment, Mercia and I knew that renovating the bathroom was a matter of not if, but when. The single greatest reason for our procrastinating was the fact that we have only one bathroom, something relatively common in all but the most luxurious apartments in New York.

We finally sucked it up and got it done. it wasn't easy, but it was worth it.

We used Metro Builders and the best part is they do it all: plumbing, electrical, painting, etc. and we needed no subcontractors. They were fair, honest, patient, affordable and clean. I cannot recommend the quality of their work and their knowledge enough. Here are some before and after photos. (The tiles in the before pictures came off a couple of days before work started, by the way)

Before:

After:

I'm very pleased. Very.

Getting the bathroom fixed has been a bit of a nightmare and not having regular access to blogging left me with a few things I wanted to write about.

While I have been very tough on Lula - and will continue to be - on his shortcomings with regard to his policies on the environment, this is unquestionably a good step:

In an unprecedented move against rogue cattle ranchers in the Amazon, the Brazilian government has seized livestock grazing there illegally, the new environment minister announced Tuesday.      

Officials carted off 3,100 head of cattle that they said were being raised on an ecological reserve in the state of Para, in an operation intended to serve as a warning to other ranchers grazing an estimated 60,000 head on illegally deforested land in Amazonia, the environment minister, Carlos Minc, said.

“No more being soft,” Mr. Minc told reporters in the capital, Brasilia. “Those that don’t respect environmental legislation, your cattle are going to become barbecue for Fome Zero,” he said, referring to the government’s food program for the poor.

Mr. Minc said the cattle would be auctioned in two weeks and the proceeds go to Fome Zero, as well as to health programs for indigenous peoples and to finance cattle removal operations.

This is a huge step in the right direction. What is even more astonishing is that this is taking place in the state of Para, arguably the state where those with means have amongst the greatest contempt for the law. It speaks to the need for Brazil's federal government to play a greater role in these sorts of actions. Leaving this up to states like Para will change nothing.

I do share the following caution, however:

“This can be a good way of at least showing the government is concerned about the contribution of ranching to the problem of deforestation,” said Peter May, associate director of Friends of the Earth Brazil. “It’s an important strategy, but if they do it just once and then never do it again it will be seen as a media event.”

If this is a one-off effort it accomplishes nothing. So much needs to be done.

More good environmental news:

The dream of a restored Everglades, with water flowing from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay, moved a giant step closer to reality on Tuesday when the nation’s largest sugarcane producer agreed to sell all of its assets to the state and go out of business.

Under the proposed deal, Florida will pay $1.75 billion for United States Sugar, which would have six years to continue farming before turning over 187,000 acres north of Everglades National Park, along with two sugar refineries, 200 miles of railroad and other assets.

It would be Florida’s biggest land acquisition ever, and the magnitude and location of the purchase left environmentalists and state officials giddy.

This is nearly three hundred square miles, a size nearly equivalent to the land area of New York City. I'm giddy just thinking about it. I grew up for much of my childhood in Miami and spent many a Boy Scout camping trip in the Everglades. There are few places in this country where you can see such a broad spectrum of wildlife. This statement almost brings tears to my eyes:

"This is about putting it back to the way it was in the 1890s,” Mr. [David G.] Guest [ a lawyer for Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund] said. “What will happen is that if you come back here in 20 years, it will look indistinguishable from the way it looked before the white man arrived.”

Wow!

It really came as no surprise to me that Spain beat Germany today - and did so handily. Despite an impressive opening fifteen minutes, Spain did what it has done all tournament long: controlled the midfield, relied on their speed, used their short passing game and made the most of their time of possession. They played creatively, Germany did not.

A few more observations:

• Honestly, what is so great about Miroslav Klose? He was frequently offside and when he had the ball, could barely control it.
• ESPN, please give Andy Gray a full-time job and get rid of Tommy Smyth.
• Gray's insightful comments enhanced the game. Smyth's uninformed biases only make me wonder why he's there in the first place.
• Earlier today Smyth was still touting Germany as a likely winner, citing Germany's number of appearances in championship matches and Spain's consistent underperforming. Why not look at recent history: going into the final Germany had given up four goals after group play and six goals over all. They had a goal differential of plus 4. Spain, meanwhile had given up no goals after group play and only three goals over all, leaving them with a goal differential of plus 8. Spain had not lost a game in twenty-one consecutive matches.
• Thank God it didn't come down to penalties.

Next up is the Confederations Cup next year in South Africa, which will feature Spain, the USA, Italy, South Africa, Brazil, Iraq, Egypt and most likely, New Zealand, if the win the Oceania Football Confederation championship. Should be good.

Memo to Barack Obama, as I expect that sort of pandering from John McCain: people will appreciate a carefully explained response. Instead of pandering on the subject of the death penalty for child rape, explain succinctly and compassionately why this is a bad idea. Perhaps something like this:

"I'm the father of two young girls. The only crime more heinous in my mind than the rape of a child would be the murder of a child. If a child rapist knows that the rape of a child will result in his execution, given the simple fact that someone cannot be executed twice, all the death penalty would do in this instance is ensure that a reliable witness to this crime would be killed by the perpetrator. Do we as a society want to turn child rape victims into child murder victims just to seem tough on this crime?"

That's all that needed to be said. Just a dose of common sense.

Germany truly failed to impress me except for the last fifteen minutes against what amounted to Turkey's B team. While Phillip Lahm's goal was beautifully set-up and executed, given that they had just coughed up a lead, one wonders what would have happened if Turkey had a little more time.

Spain, on the other hand, played creatively and beat Russia at its own game. They controlled the ball effectively, tracked back well on defense and their finishing was terrific, if not perfect. What I believe will be the difference tomorrow is Spain's bench. When David Villa went down injured in the semi-final, Cesc Fabregas came in and assisted on the last two goals. When Fernando Torres was subbed out, Daniel Güiza came in and scored the second goal. A midfield consisting of Marcos Senna, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas would have most coaches salivating.

If the Germans expect to match Spain's attack, then they have a major challenge, especially if Michael Ballack is not in the game or not 100%.  If they expect to win by lobbing high balls into Miroslav Klose (who, frankly has never really impressed me) and Kevin Kuranyi should he come on as a substitute, then they will be disappointed. It pains me as a Barcelona fan to admit this, but I find Iker Casillas to be a far more reliable goalkeeper than Jens Lehmann. I believe Spain will win.

A peek into the man's soul, thanks to Rolling Stone via the UK Guardian:

The Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama showcased his diverse musical taste, ranging from Bob Dylan to Jay-Z and Bruce Springsteen, after revealing the playlist on his iPod.

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, to be published this Friday, the Illinois senator said he had "pretty eclectic tastes".

The list of bands reads like the acts at a summer music festival, with the Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow and Ludacris all in the mix.

Obama said that, growing up, he listened to Elton John and Earth, Wind & Fire but that Stevie Wonder was his ultimate musical hero during the 70s.

The Stones' track Gimme Shelter topped his favourite songs from the band.

His selection also contained 30 songs from Dylan. "One of my favourites [for] the political season is [Dylan's] Maggie's Farm. It speaks to me as I listen to some of the political rhetoric."

In the song, Dylan sings about trying to be himself, "but everybody wants you to be just like them".

The jazz legends Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker were also included in the compilation.

Many of the musicians on Obama's iPod, such as Bruce Springsteen, are supporting his White House bid.

Earlier this month, Dylan said he believed Obama was redefining politics in the US and could bring change to a nation in upheaval.

"I've got to say, having both Dylan and Bruce Springsteen say kind words about you is pretty remarkable," Obama said. "Those guys are icons."

Obama said he had not met Springsteen but that the two had talked over the phone.

"Not only do I love Bruce's music, I just love him as a person," Obama said. "He is a guy who has never lost track of his roots, who knows who he is, who has never put on a front."

He added that, when speaking to the singer, he addressed him by his moniker the Boss. "You've got to," Obama said.

The candidate said he thought rap music was also helping to break down barriers within the music world. Indeed it was reported last month that Obama will make a cameo performance on the rap singer Q-Tip's next album.

However, he expressed concern over his daughters – Malia, nine, and Sasha, seven – listening to some rap songs.

"I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics," he said, "but I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music."

He said the hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and the rappers Jay-Z and Ludacris were "great talents and great businessmen".

"It would be nice if I could have my daughters listen to their music without me worrying they were getting bad images of themselves," he added.

Tunes we can believe in...

UPDATE below the jump - just in case you haven't listened to this one in a while, the lyrics to "Maggie's Farm."

Maggie's Farm by Bob Dylan

I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more.
No, I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more.
Well, I wake in the morning,
Fold my hands and pray for rain.
I got a head full of ideas
That are drivin' me insane.
It's a shame the way she makes me scrub the floor.
I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more.

I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother no more.
No, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother no more.
Well, he hands you a nickel,
He hands you a dime,
He asks you with a grin
If you're havin' a good time,
Then he fines you every time you slam the door.
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's brother no more.

I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa no more.
No, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa no more.
Well, he puts his cigar
Out in your face just for kicks.
His bedroom window
It is made out of bricks.
The National Guard stands around his door.
Ah, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's pa no more.

I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more.
No, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more.
Well, she talks to all the servants
About man and God and law.
Everybody says
She's the brains behind pa.
She's sixty-eight, but she says she's twenty-four.
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more.