White House issues bizarre non-denial of Pfeiffer's repudiation of marriage questionnaire

Why does it always have to be so hard? Read the rest of this post...

Cervical cancer vaccine a success according to new study

This is very positive news.

The first evidence has emerged that nationwide vaccination programmes for young women against HPV, the virus that triggers cervical cancer, are likely to cut the numbers who get the disease.

A study in Australia, one of the first countries to introduce the vaccination, has shown a drop in high-grade cervical abnormalities – changes to the cells in the neck of the womb that can be the precursor to cancer.

Australia introduced nationwide HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination for women aged 12 to 26 from 2007.

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Spanish economy again showing cracks

This sounds like another "not if, but when" problem for the Spanish economy. The immediate focus today is on Greece but if this bond sale is any indication, Spain may be the next concern. The problems in Greece, Ireland and Portugal will be minor compared to Spain due to the size of the economy. CNBC:

"The last thing that financial markets needed this morning was a wobbly Spanish auction, but that’s exactly what they got. Spain’s borrowing costs have soared, with 10 year Spanish government bond yields jumping a massive 20bps at one point," said Riddell in a research note Thursday.

"One bank reported zero buying interest from their clients, and with the auction not well placed, dealers have been selling into the market," Riddell added.

"It’s difficult to focus on the long term when there’s such a big short term risk of a horrible air shot as the authorities collectively try to kick the proverbial can," he said.

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Senior White House aide: 1996 Obama gay marriage questionnaire is a fake, even though Obama signed it

During a Q&A this morning at the annual Netroots Nation liberal blog conference, White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer claimed that Barack Obama never filled out a pair of 1996 questionnaires that show then-Illinois-legislature-candidate Obama supporting gay marriage.

Then who is the liar who filled out the questionnaires for the poor victimized Barack Obama?  Here's the perp's signature at the bottom of one of the questionnaires - see for yourself:

Yes, Barack Obama signed Barack Obama's questionnaire claiming to be in favor of gay marriage in 1996.

Much more on this in my coverage over at AMERICAblog Gay. Read the rest of this post...

GP and Amanda Marcotte on Sam Seder’s Majority Report at Netroots Nation

Posted without much comment for (hopefully) obvious reasons, though I will add that Amanda Marcotte makes great sense throughout the interview.



Topics range from uppers to downers. I'll add in downers' defense that it's an aspect of the doctrine of American Exceptionalism that it's impossible to do lasting damage to the country — in other words, that America is bulletproof. I don't think that's right, but only in the sense that it's always possible to do yourself lasting damage.

Two small corrections: ALEC is the American Legislative Exchange Council (I missed the exact title). And Amanda was indeed the source of the idea that right-wing issues are a dying force, since they depend on an aging and dying populace that holds those views; smart point.

For the rest, offered for your amusement and consideration.

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FireDogLake's Jane Hamsher on why she's an activist, and a recent "lesbian blogger" sock puppet scandal

I had a chance to sit down with Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake.

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Assad's cousin quits "business" in attempted concession to protesters

It's probably a welcomed change but it's perhaps not quite the person everyone had in mind. Meanwhile, Assad's troops are on the move again.

Rami Makhlouf, a cousin of President Bashar al-Assad and focus of anti-corruption protests, is quitting business and moving to charity works, state media says.

The announcement by the Syrian business tycoon was seen as a concession to anti-government protesters, who were expected to take to the streets again on Friday.

In a statement, Makhlouf said he took the decision to quit because he no longer wants "to be a burden on Syria, its people and its president".

Makhlouf will channel his wealth into charity and development projects, according to Syrian television.

"As for his businesses, they will be directed so that they ... create jobs and support the national economy. He will not enter into any new project that [brings] him personal gain," the report said on Thursday.

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New E. coli outbreak hits Europe

This time it's France and cheap burgers.

Health authorities in France have ordered a recall of beefburgers sold by the supermarket chain Lidl after seven children became infected with E coli bacteria, though officials ruled out a link between those infections and the deadly outbreak centred on Germany that has killed 39 people.

Daniel Lenoir, head of the health agency in France's Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, said: "We are certain it's not the same bacterial strain that was identified on sprouts in Germany." .

Lenoir said the seven children were in hospital with infections stemming from E coli, which causes vomiting and severe, often bloody, diarrhoea. He added that five of the children had eaten frozen ground beef patties that were made in a French factory and sold by the German supermarket chain Lidl.

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