Wednesday evening links

I'm starting a new fulltime project next week, but I had a half day of training today and will have a full day on Friday. Anyway, I haven't had time to read and fully digest the stories of the day, but will post some of the links that stood out to me. Feel free to post links of your own in the comments, or to post excerpts from the articles I link if there's something you think merits extra attention.

Big Brother is Watching You. Yes, YOU.

B-B-B-Bye-den Apparently he's been committing some verbal gaffes. But we should give him the benefit of the doubt, right? Since he's so quick to come to Howard Dean's defense when need be. Oh wait...

No, that was not an important story to link to. Pure schadenfreude. Sorry. I'll be sure to add some more useful/worthwhile links to counterbalance that.

Update: Working my way around the tubes, I see that this has actually gotten quite a bit of attention, and Obama has responded. So I'm posting Biden's actual remark and Barack Obama's response:

Joe Biden (D-MBNA)

“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”

Barack Obama (via Digby)

I didn't take Senator Biden's comments personally, but obviously they are historically inaccurate. After all, we've had presidential candidates like Jesse jackson, Shirley Chisholm, Carol Mosely Braun and Al Sharpton. They gave a voice to many important issues through their campaigns and no one would call them inarticulate.

Once again, if you want updates on the Scooter Libby trial, you'll want to check out today's posts at Firedoglake.

From Rep. Louise Slaughter: Slaughter Condemns Military Equipment Shortages as Waste Persists

Via AmericaBlog: Senate agrees to minimum wage increase, Republicans force even more tax cuts for business

Here's a Kos diary by John Conyers: Congress Is No Longer Silent

Today marks the first hearing I will conduct in the Judiciary Committee since taking over as Chairman and this feels like a momentous occasion.

Our country has been run, far too long, by an Administration that seeks to rule in secrecy. The Bush White House has ignored our founding fathers’ separation of powers, claiming an ever increasing scope of authority in direct conflict with the constitution.

For the past six years Congress has been silent, watching idly as its powers are usurped.

No longer.

Click here for the rest.

Here's a Kos diary that says Clark is running. Doesn't seem official yet, but apparently it will be official on Friday.

Via Booman Tribune: Feingold's Iraq Redeployment Act of 2007

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