Bear Left!

Fact of the Week

**Fact of the Week**
It's official. The closest thing to a truly permanent campaign, the 1984 Reagan-Bush committee, has finally stopped. Some campaigns live on (like John Glenn's failed bid for the 1984 Democratic nomination) because they have debts that need repayment. The 1984 Reagan-Bush campaign had no such outstanding debts. Instead, it had a fair amount of money. For years, Angela "Bay" Buchanan (yes, the sister of Pat Buchanan) invested the campaign's surplus in long-term investments and paid herself "consulting fees" for her invaluable advice, until the Associated Press caught her at it. Finally, Angela Buchanan has realized that there are other places for that money, places that presumably don't pay her any consulting fees. Sources: Associated Press, 29 January 2000; Federal Election Commission report for 15 April 2002.

**This week's columns**
In Critique of Pure Tolerance Paul Corrigan The government was right to try to protect individuals against parts of the Internet, but wrong to mandate that protection as law. Go to article!	First Principle Tim Francis-Wright Any peaceful solution to the conflict in Israel and Palestine must include the right of both states to exist. Go to article!

Cheney's Former Oil Firm Founders: Was Dick Cheney incompetent as head of Halliburton, or just in it for the stock options (Michael Kranish, Boston Globe)?
Freedom to Hate, Freedom to Harm: The US constitution is a uniquely powerful document, but whether it has served freedom is debatable (Julian Borger, The Guardian).
New IBA Chief Bans Use of Term 'Settlements': The new head of the Israeli Broadcasting Authority has banned the terms "settlers" and "settlements" from Israeli news broadcasts (Uri Ayalon, Ha'aretz).
The Peculiar Duplicity of Ari Fleischer: The White House press secretary has a unique way of not telling the truth (Jonathan Chait, The New Republic).
Secret Middle East Talks in Britain: The Guardian has arranged for secret talks in Britain between Israelis and Palestinians (Ewen MacAskill, The Guardian).
We Must All Prevent War: Preventing war is far too important to be left to governments (John Carroll, Boston Globe via CommonDreams.org).
"Driving While Female": Police nationwide are abusing their powers to harass and assault women (Samuel Walker and Dawn Irlbeck, University of Nebraska at Lincoln).

"Bear left!"/"Right, Frog!" (Kermit and Fozzie, The Muppet Movie)

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