This is a disturbing piece of news even at a time when we see enough disturbing news on a daily basis to make one numb. Brian Ross and Richard Esposito of ABC News are reporting that a confidential source in the government has warned them that their phone calls are being tracked as part of a program to root out confidential sources (under the guise of a leak investigation). According to the article, reporters from ABC News as well as the New York Times and the Washington Post have been targeted. While the source claims that the content of the phone calls is not being collected, they are apparently able to root out potential sources from tracking call patterns. At a time when Congress has relinquished all semblance of its oversight duties, this could have a potentially chilling effect on the whistleblowers we so desperately need.

I generally stay away from politics on this blog, but it has always been something I am passionate about and thus I cannot help speaking on it occassionally. Yesterday, the Senate voted to end debate on the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, effectively ensuring his nomination will succeed. Most Democrats have come out in opposition to the nomination, however the vote to end debate included 19 Democrats. This stikes me as playing both sides of the table. These same Democrats are likely to tout their "no" vote in the upcoming mid-term elections, banking on that you are not aware of their vote to end debate and its significance. So, in doing my part, here are a list of names of Democrats who voted in favor of Alito's nomination by choosing to end debate:

Arkansas - Lincoln (D) Yes; Pryor (D) Yes
Colorado - Salazar (D) Yes
Connecticut - Lieberman (D) Yes
Delaware - Carper (D) Yes
Florida - Nelson (D) Yes
Hawaii - Akaka (D) Yes; Inouye (D) Yes
Iowa - Harkin (D) Not Voting
Louisiana - Landrieu (D) Yes
Montana - Baucus (D) Yes
Nebraska - Nelson (D) Yes
New Mexico - Bingaman (D) Yes
North Dakota - Conrad (D) Yes; Dorgan (D) Yes
South Dakota - Johnson (D) Yes
Washington - Cantwell (D) Yes
West Virginia - Byrd (D) Yes; Rockefeller (D) Yes
Wisconsin - Kohl (D) Yes

I usually stay away from these types of posts, but these stories just bring forth a level of indignation that is hard not to respond to. The Nation reports that FEMA's list of "voluntary organizations are seeking cash donations to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina in Gulf Coast states" includes Pat Robertson's Operation Blessing (yes the same Pat Robertson who said we should assasinate Venezuela's deomocratically elected president among other incediary remarks). In fact, I verfied that the Nation's claim that "only two non-'faith-based' organizations were included" in FEMA's list is indeed true...don't believe check the list yourself. Then read the full article for the more details of Operation Blessing's shady dealings.

Congress officially convened today and Social Security reform near the top of its agenda. The New York Times Op-Ed page did a spectacular job of laying out the case against privatization, and how much of America is being sold a phony crisis. To read the article go to The Social Security Fear Factor. If it asks you to sign up, well...why not? It's free!