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Quote of the day. “People say to us, ‘Oh, I grew up with your music,’ and we often say, sotto voce, ‘So did we.’” Folksinger Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, who died yesterday at 72. (New York Times)
FAITH IN THE NEWS
Capitol prayer service calls for end to hatred of immigrants “Outside the Capitol Sept. 15 bishops of three denominations led a brief prayer service for an end to hate, particularly hatred toward immigrants.”
Lawmakers back officials facing jail for prayer “Two Florida school officials facing possible jail terms for praying in the presence of students arrive in court Thursday enjoying the support of more than 60 members of Congress.”
Snubs await Ahmadinejad in U.S. “It's an invitation even some committed pacifists are loath to accept: an evening with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Even the Quakers say they won't meet with Mr. Ahmadinejad, who is expected to face large protests outside the United Nations and his hotel, the Barclay.”
'Aggressively evangelistic' churches growing “Two new reports on the size and strength of American congregations present contrasting pictures of church life today.”
Pakistan Rights Groups Seek Answers on Christian’s Death “A Christian man detained on blasphemy charges was found dead in his jail cell on Tuesday in eastern Pakistan. Human rights groups here said he appeared to have been killed, perhaps in collusion with the authorities.”
Clergy focus on ethics of health overhaul “From the pulpits and through public statements, religious leaders have been weighing in on various elements of what they say is a crucial moral issue.”
NEWS AT HOME
Health care. Baucus Measure Would Expand Care Without Adding to Deficit “A year-long effort by senators to draft a bipartisan overhaul of the nation's health-care system on Wednesday yielded the only congressional proposal that would extend coverage to millions of uninsured Americans while making good on President Obama's pledge not to add 'one dime' to budget deficits.” Baucus Offers Health Plan but Lacks G.O.P. Support “The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday unveiled his long-awaited plan to remake the nation’s health care system and insure millions of Americans.” Sen. Max Baucus unveils his healthcare overhaul plan “Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) released the crucial moderate alternative Wednesday in the struggle to refashion America's healthcare system, a $856-billion bill that includes a mix of sweeping new insurance regulations but no government-run plan.” Analysis: Baucus Health-Care Bill Appears to Be Moving Forward “On the surface, it appears that no one is happy with Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) -- and that may be the best news President Obama has had in months.”
Obama and race. As in Campaign, Obama Deflects Issue of Race “A debate over the role of race in the current criticism of President Obama is forcing the White House to confront a volatile issue it would rather avoid.” As Race Debate Grows, Obama Steers Clear of ItObama team keeps distance from Carter's charges of racism “As the nation's first black president strives to keep the public focused on healthcare, he is facing an unwanted detour into race.”
Death penalty. Ohio Plans to Try Again as Execution Goes Wrong “The State of Ohio plans to try again next week to execute a convicted rapist-murderer, after a team of technicians spent two hours on Tuesday in an unsuccessful effort to inject him with lethal drugs.”
College loans. House Bill Would End U.S. Subsidy to Lenders of College Aid “The federal government would end its four-decade practice of subsidizing private lenders that make college loans under a bill the House took up Wednesday that would steer tens of billions of dollars in savings to student aid over the next decade.”
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Global poverty. Global Poverty Rolls Projected to Surge “The global recession is expected to push 89 million more people into extreme poverty by the end of 2010, the World Bank said Wednesday as it called on the leaders of the 20 largest economies to engage in 'responsible globalization.'"
Missile defense. Obama administration to shelve Bush-era plan for missile defense in Eastern Europe “President Barack Obama on Thursday shelved a Bush-era plan for an Eastern European missile defense shield that has been a major irritant in relations with Russia.” Obama shelves Europe missile plan “US President Barack Obama has shelved plans for controversial bases in Poland and the Czech Republic in a major overhaul of missile defence in Europe. The bases are to be scrapped after a review of the threat from Iran.”
Death penalty -- Japan. Death penalty opponent Keiko Chiba made Japanese Justice Minister “The new Japanese Government has in effect suspended the death penalty by appointing an outspoken opponent of capital punishment as Justice Minister.”
Afghanistan-war. Suicide bomber hits NATO convoy in Kabul “A powerful suicide bomb attack struck an Italian convoy of NATO soldiers on Thursday along a major roadway in the heart of Kabul. By early afternoon, the Afghan Defense Ministry reported 10 civilian deaths and more than 50 injured, while officials at NATO's International Security Assistance force reported that six service members had been killed …” Italian forces die in Kabul blast “At least six Italian soldiers have been killed in a bomb attack on a military convoy in the Afghan capital, Kabul, Italian defence officials say.”
Afghanistan -- US troops. Obama Says He Won't Be Rushed on Troop Levels in Afghanistan “President Obama pushed back Wednesday against pressure to make a decision about sending more troops to Afghanistan, saying he will resist any attempt to rush him until he has 'absolute clarity about what the strategy is going to be.'" Obama says he won't rush Afghanistan troop decision “On a day when his administration outlined ambitious goals for Afghanistan and Pakistan, President Obama also moved Wednesday to call a timeout in the escalating national debate over a possible troop increase in Afghanistan.” Obama Offers Ways to Rate Efforts in Afghan Region “The Obama administration delivered to Congress on Wednesday about 50 measures to determine whether a broad military and nation-building campaign to stabilize Afghanistan and Pakistan was succeeding, paving the way for the White House to argue that the American combat effort in the region would not be open-ended.”
Iraq. Green Zone Takes More Fire During Biden Visit "Baghdad’s heavily fortified international zone was attacked by rocket fire for a second night on Wednesday, this time just after Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki had made brief public remarks and sat down for a traditional dinner to break the Ramadan fast."
Somalia. Somali insurgents kill peacekeepers “Somali insurgents killed at least five African Union peacekeepers in a double suicide attack designed to avenge the death of an al-Qaida militant assassinated during a US commando earlier this week.”
OPINION.
Fiery rhetoric of Obama's critics (Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune) “Yet, it strikes me that one of the byproducts of having a black president is how many white people I know are learning what it feels like to be black in a society that constantly is telling you that something is not a race issue when you so plainly and clearly think it is.”
Health Reform’s Missing Ingredient (Ron Wyden, New York Times) “Under the nation’s current employer-based system, most people have little if any choice about where they get their insurance. They just have to accept the plan that comes with their job. That insurance company, in turn, is provided a captive group of customers, so it has no incentive to earn their loyalty. Empowering Americans to choose from a broad selection of health plans would turn the tables.”
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