Top Scoops: Comment & Opinion Digest 26 Jan. 2006

Friday, 26 January 2007, 1:09 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:
Photo Essay: Mon Monreal's Surreal Views Of Welly's Botanical Garden's
Antiquities: Bob Hecht's Former Partner Talks To Suzan Mazur
Motornet: Karl Ferguson Checks Out 2 Merc SUVs
Iraq: Opposition To War Grows On Eve Of Massive Protest
Iran: Escalation In Iran Rhetoric Continues Unabated
Bush: Columnists Give Their Impression Of The State of Bush's Union
American Coup: The Security Keys You Can Make From An Online Picture
American Coup: A Corner Of The US Where Recount Is Not A Dirty Word
PlameGate: The 16 Words That Are Now On Trial In D.C.
The Rule Of Law: George Bush vs Rule Of Law – Round 10
MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:

Mon Monreal's Surreal Views Of Welly's Botanical Garden's

- Wellington's annual festival of lights is on at the Botanical Gardens. The following spectacular images can be blown up to desktop sized by clicking on them. See... Scoop Images: Coloured Lights In The Gardens (1) [1] & (2) [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00320.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00321.htm

Antiquities: Bob Hecht's Former Partner Talks To Suzan Mazur

- Speaking with West Coast film producer Bruce McNall, the man who brought us WarGames with Matthew Broderick and Summa Gallery with antiquities' Bob Hecht, reminded me of my chats many years ago with magazine publisher Malcolm Forbes, dubbed "the happiest millionaire". McNall's enthusiasm is just like that -- maybe minus some of the millions. It's so infectious that it's difficult to believe McNall's financial world ever crumbled in the 1990s and that he spent several years in jail after being convicted for overvaluing ancient coins. See... McNall On Hecht & Collapse Of Antiquities Market [1] & Mazur: Hecht's Partner On The Roman Bronze Boy [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00239.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00171.htm

Motornet: Karl Ferguson Checks Out 2 Merc SUVs

- I can’t be sure exactly what the cyclist was saying, but his sentiment was clear. It had a lot to do with his shaking fist and angry expression. It seems that while driving to work one typically late spring morning (overcast, cold) I had strayed into a cycle lane and was impeding said disgruntled cyclist. Strange really, as I wasn’t doing anything differently from any other day – same route, same turning lane, same everything. But I had forgotten one thing. See... MOTORNET: Heavy Hitters [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00240.htm

Iraq: Opposition To War Grows On Eve Of Massive Protest

- (APN) ATLANTA – Last week US Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) introduced H.R. 508, the "Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2007," the strongest of all current US Congressional bills which seek to de-escalate the US Invasion of Iraq. See... Woolsey Bill Would "Bring Troops Home" in 6 Mnths [1] MORE IRAQ NEWS:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00325.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00327.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00282.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00280.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00273.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00268.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00262.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00299.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00267.htm

Iran: Escalation In Iran Rhetoric Continues Unabated

- The Editor-in-Chief of the Arab Times reports that a “reliable source” in Washington has provided detailed information about the forthcoming US hard-power attack on Iran’s nuclear and oil industries. See... Bush Will Expand War To Iran Before Blair Resigns [1] MORE IRAN NEWS:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00249.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00306.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00272.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00264.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00263.htm

Bush: Columnists Give Their Impression Of The State of Bush's Union

- It was disturbing to see so many members of Congress in both parties clamoring to get Bush's autograph on their copies of his State of the Union—not because it was such a dishonest speech that did such a disservice to this country, and not because they should have been handing him subpoenas instead. Rather, my concern arises from the habit Bush has developed following the signing of any document. Typically he goes home, talks to his lawyers, and issues a "signing statement" the next day radically altering what he has just signed. Bad as that speech was, it could get a lot worse. See... David Swanson: Demanding Truth from Power [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00318.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00309.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00316.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00313.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00312.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00281.htm

American Coup: The Security Keys You Can Make From An Online Picture

- Good lord in heaven. How dumb are these guys at Diebold?! Can you believe the United States has actually entrusted them to build a security system for the original U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights?! See... Diebold Vote Machine Key Copied From Online Photo [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00317.htm

American Coup: A Corner Of The US Where Recount Is Not A Dirty Word

Three citizens of Sheridan County, Wyoming had a big question shortly after the mid term election for Wyoming’s 1st and only Congressional district. Why did the shift to the Democratic candidate in their county lag behind the rest of the state? Democrat ... See... Three Wyoming Democrats Take a Stand for Democracy [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00247.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00324.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00307.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00296.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00265.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00260.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00253.htm

PlameGate: The 16 Words That Are Now On Trial In D.C.

- Four years ago this month, President Bush, in his State of the Union address, said, "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." See... Leopold: 16 Words and the Trial of Scooter Libby [1] MORE ON THE LIBBY TRIAL:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00301.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00300.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00277.htm

The Rule Of Law: George Bush vs Rule Of Law – Round 10

- In one of the most chilling public statements ever made by a U.S. Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales questioned whether the U.S. Constitution grants habeas corpus rights of a fair trial to every American. See... Robert Parry: Gonzales Questions Habeas Corpus [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00258.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00297.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00257.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00256.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00252.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00251.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENT & OPINION:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00285.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00284.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00319.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00287.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00271.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00237.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00315.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00314.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00311.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00310.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00303.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00308.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00305.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00304.htm
[15] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00298.htm
[16] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00235.htm
[17] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00283.htm
[18] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00279.htm
[19] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00278.htm
[20] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00274.htm
[21] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00270.htm
[22] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00269.htm
[23] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00266.htm
[24] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00261.htm
[25] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00259.htm
[26] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00255.htm
[27] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00254.htm
[28] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00236.htm
[29] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00234.htm
[30] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0701/S00233.htm

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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