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07 Aug 2010 14:53

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Politics: Dear AlterNet: Good job uncovering that Digg conspiracy

  • Digg’s prone to this kinda thingLook, there’s a reason why Digg is last year’s social media model. This, honestly, is why. It’s too easy to influence the results via collusion. And while AlterNet obviously leans left, the level of research into the story definitely leaves no doubt of a massive right-wing conspiracy to influence what gets on the front page of Digg. As they point out, this is actually a scandal, whereas the Journolist thing had the hype of a scandal but wasn’t anywhere near this bad.
  • The influence game Look, we have no real interest in Digg. We think human aggregation is more interesting than thumbs. But we have to say – in the game of influence, there’s a big difference between having an opinion and forcing an agenda. The journalists on Journolist? Their big crime was having an opinion. The guys at DiggPatriot? They forced an agenda and acted like they did nothing wrong. Which one is worse? It seems obvious now, doesn’t it? source

07 Aug 2010 14:39

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Politics: Political “tracker” tries to nail Media Matters for America, fails

  • Remember the dude who tracked Rep. Bob Etheridge and got accosted by the guy, getting way more than he bargained for? This is the antidote to that. This dude tried to do the same thing to the liberal-leaning Media Matters for America, only to find himself completely outmatched by the guys he’s trying to vilify. LOL. Poor Spencer. His obsession with George Soros ended in tears.

06 Aug 2010 12:47

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U.S.: Obama’s top economic-advisin’ lady dropping out of the job

Is it a sign about Obama’s economic policy? Christina Romer is Obama’s second main economic type to leave, after the much hotter Peter Orszag. source

06 Aug 2010 12:12

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Politics: Rep. Maxine Waters to Congress ethics types: BRING IT ON!

  • She and Charlie Rangel are tag-teaming it. California Rep. Maxine Waters, currently facing ethics charges over her husband’s ties to a bank that she worked with, wants Congress to give her hell before the midterm elections. “I have made a very public request to come out with the formalized charges and to set up a meeting to hear them,” she said. “Let’s hope that they do it.” source

06 Aug 2010 11:58

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Politics: And here’s a pretty depressing quote to add to the mix

  • The president does oppose same-sex marriage, but he supports equality for gay and lesbian couples, and benefits and other issues, and that has been effectuated in federal agencies under his control.
  • Top White House adviser David Axelrod • Saying – somewhat unbelievably – that Obama still opposes gay marriage. Wasn’t this supposed to be the president that was going to stand up for gay rights? What the hell kind of standing up is that? While Obama opposed Prop 8, according to Axelrod (because it was “mean-spirited”), that still doesn’t take back the fact that the president has provided lip service and little else to the gay rights movement. Yes, it’s a political football. Yes, it’ll be hard to deal with among certain bases. But how can he, at this point, not support gay marriage? Unbelievable. source

05 Aug 2010 20:54

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World: Wyclef Jean’s ego already serving him well for Haiti elections

  • I would like to tell (U.S.) President Barack Obama that the United States has Obama and Haiti has Wyclef Jean.
  • Wyclef Jean • Saying the kind of thing that would sound arrogant coming from most people. But Wyclef Jean is dead serious about his motives. And his popularity is high enough right now that he has a huge groundswell of support, never mind the fact that Haitian law says that the can’t become president right now. But everybody loves him! He’s Wyclef Jean. Let’s fix that, guys. source

04 Aug 2010 21:03

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Politics: Marriage ban overturned: Other key storylines in the Prop 8 case

 

04 Aug 2010 20:19

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04 Aug 2010 10:27

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Politics: Poll: Nevada’s Senate race leaning in Harry Reid’s direction

  • 48% think it’s better to lean on the Senate Majority Leader
  • 44% plan to vote for the interview-shy Tea Partier Sharron Angle
  • 8% honestly can’t wait to see what stupid crap Angle says next source

03 Aug 2010 21:25

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World: Wyclef Jean for Haitian president: Crazier things have happened

  • We’re not sure what, but it’s pretty weird. Jean, pretty much the most famous Haitian in the world, plans to take his deep knowledge of economi … oh, who are we kidding? He’s like Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003. He’s famous and riding a strong wave of good will, and that high profile and good will may actually be helpful in rebuilding earthquake-torn Haiti, because (while he may only come with a level of political experience equivalent to Alvin Greene) he has charisma and can keep the tragedy on people’s minds. Someone has to. source