They are here! I will be interested in hearing your point of view regarding the debate and who had the best answers. I will share mine after the debate. So far 3 candidates spoke about the Fairtax, hmm.

Here's an interesting, well written article I found. I hope they do shorten the tours, so our soldiers can get some R&R and try to return to a normal life again. So many of the neo-con talking heads are so eager for war and say they "support our troops" , yet they don't take the individual soldier's welfare into consideration. If it was up to those non-serving chicken hawks (Hannity, Boortz, Limbaugh, Savage, etc.) we would be attacking Iran and every other country that disagrees with our policies.




Army Leaders Push to Shorten Iraq Tours
By ROBERT BURNS
Sunday, December 9, 2007
As security improves in Iraq, pressure is building to reverse one of the most onerous decisions Defense Secretary Robert Gates made to enable President Bush's troop buildup to go forward this year: extending the tours of active-duty soldiers from 12 months to 15 months.
The extra three months is a weighty burden, both physically and psychologically, for soldiers already stressed by multiple tours, and on families coping with strains that have mounted since the war began in 2003.
"We can't sustain that," Gen. George Casey, who was the top U.S. commander in Iraq before becoming the Army chief of staff at the Pentagon in April, said recently. "We have to come off that." He said a decision on cutting tour lengths could be announced in three months or four months...............................Full Article

Is this "fair tax" plan that Neal Boortz always touts on his show, fair? He says it will "get rid of the IRS", but I highly doubt it. What agency will replace the IRS to collect the "imbedded taxes" from the businesses. On it's face it sounds great! But a closer look makes it seem even more intrusive than the current system. Here's my question; My friend's a plumber and he comes over to do me a favor and fix my toilet, are we subject to that 20% sales tax even though he was doing me a favor? Some people have suggested that is the case. Here's the Fair Tax Bill in it's entirety;
H.R. 25 [109th]: Fair Tax Act of 2005

The other day, I may have been a little harsh on the Michael Savage issue. Today I am in a better mood and I am going to reply to the comments that Savage made on his radio show. I really don't know too much about CAIR, I hear some allegations about them but I have yet to confirm or deny it. I am not a Muslim and I find Islam to be a little too strict for my taste. Unless it's the brand of Islam that many Turkish people that I know follow, which is a very liberal version to say the least. What I do not like is bigotry and generalizations. Especially when it's carried out by someone who's people were persecuted and talked about, in very similar ways to the way they themselves are speaking about Muslims today.
Now it seems to be in vogue to slam and slander Muslims and to say things about them that would be considered racist if it was used against Blacks and anti -semetic if used towards Jews. Imus never even came close to saying what Savage said and look what happened to him!




Excerpt from the CAIR letter sent to the advertisers on Michael Savage's Show:

"I'm not gonna put my wife in a hijab. And I'm not gonna put my daughter in a burqa. And I'm not gettin on my all-fours and praying to Mecca. And you could drop dead if you don't like it. You can shove it up your pipe. I don't wanna hear anymore about Islam. I don't wanna hear one more word about Islam. Take your religion and shove it up your behind. I'm sick of you."

Where are these Muslims or Muslim groups demanding that Americans put their wives in "hijabs" and daughters in "burqas"? Where are the Muslim groups demanding that we pray "on all fours to Mecca"?  I do see many Christian groups advocating “school prayer” etc. , but you are fine with that aren’t you? Michael what if someone said”I don't wanna hear anymore about Judaism, I don't wanna hear one more word about Judaism. Take your religion and shove it up your behind. I'm sick of you."? I bet you would be up in arms and crying about anti-semitism and demanding that person's head. If it was a talk show host, I bet that YOU would be trying to get your listeners to boycott that person's advertisers. Your double standard and hypocrisy is revolting.

"What kind of religion is this? What kind of world are you living in when you let them in here with that throwback document in their hand, which is a book of hate. Don't tell me I need reeducation. They need deportation. I don't need reeducation. Deportation, not reeducation. You can take C-A-I-R and throw 'em out of my country. I'd raise the American flag and I'd get out my trumpet if you did it. Without due process. You can take your due process and shove it."

This sounds like something a Nazi would say! How could you sit there and say that crap Michael and look at yourself in the mirror every day? I thought you were an American, as Americans we should demand and expect “due process”. Again I will say that if someone said this about the Jewish people here in America, Savage and co. (Hannity, Boortz, Limbaugh, etc) would be screaming, yelling and crying “anti-Semitism”! I feel that these talk show hosts capitalize on some people’s paranoid and xenophobic attitudes. This only to stirs the pot of hate and enflames people that could potentially be on our side and an asset to us.

"What sane nation that worships the U.S. constitution, which is the greatest document of freedom ever written, would bring in people who worship a book that tells them the exact opposite. Make no mistake about it, the Quran is not a document of freedom. The Quran is a document of slavery and chattel. It teaches you that you are a slave."

What sane person who claims to worship the U.S. Constitution, wants to scrap it and eliminate “due process” when it pertains to a religious group that they don’t like? What sane person makes such an uninformed and asinine generalization about a religion that they obviously know very little about? Some can make an argument that the Old Testament and New Testament is a book that condones slavery and chattel, as well as violence supposedly “condoned by God”. So before you judge someone else’s book, take a look at your own. Even here in America, the “Good Book” was used to JUSTIFY slavery and segregation! Here in America we are supposed to be in favor of Freedom of Religion, not just when it’s our own or when it’s convenient for us to do it.

I decided not to be lazy and to be more objective. So I decided to take a closer look at Barack Obama's stance on different issues. After a review of Obama on the issues, I don't think I will be voting for him, unless he changes some stances. Aesthetically, it would be pleasing to have an Obama/Richardson ticket. I think it would symbolize the greatness of America and a realization of the "American Dream". It would show how far we have come. We came from a country that once permitted slavery and allowed states to carry out and enforce the Jim Crow Laws both by de jure in the south and de facto in the north. To a country that could possibly have, what was once a second class citizen be it's leader.
My main task is to be objective. After reviewing Obama's stances on the issues, I asked myself "do I want this type of America with his policies in place?", and I said no.

On issues of:
Abortion: According to this "On The Issues"(OTI) report. Barack Obama voted against banning partial birth abortion. On it's face it sounds bad and I initially disagreed with such a stance, but here a quote from OTI:

"In 1997, Obama voted against SB 230, which would have turned doctors into felons by banning so-called partial-birth abortion, & against a 2000 bill banning state funding. Although these bills included an exception to save the life of the mother, they didn't include anything about abortions necessary to protect the health of the mother. The legislation defined a fetus as a person, & could have criminalized virtually all abortion.

See? After reading that quote I can see why he voted against it! Personally, I am not pro abortion. I respect a woman's right to choose, but the thought of it (abortion) repulses me. I don't want abortion used as a form of birth control and/or to be "just another procedure". I can understand if it has to be done to save a woman's life, but there are plenty of good potential parents just longing to provide a good home to a child.

Source: The Improbable Quest, by John K. Wilson, p.147-148 Oct 30, 2007"

"Budget & Economy":
In short, too much government intervention for me. He's too willing to "tax" in my opinion.

"Civil Rights": I agree with him on most of it, except when he again, tries to insert more government intervention into the situation. An example of this would be the EPA "equal pay act". Not my cup of tea. He supports "civil unions", I agree with that. Two gay people being married, does not affect my relationship with my wife. If they want to be married, go ahead! God bless them! There are so many more important things to be worried about. If you are truly into "individuality" and "freedom", then "homosexual/gay marriage" should be at the bottom of your list of concerns. If it's not, then maybe you should examine your motivations for being against it.

Barack on Corporations:
"End tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas"
We agree there. I want to see more of "made in America' on the products that I buy. There should be incentives to keep our companies domestic. I want our military parts made here in America......... NOT CHINA!

Barack on Crime:
He's against the death penalty. I am in favor of it when the crime fits the punishment. Here's one of his quotes " Obama's most significant contribution has been his legislative battles against the death penalty, and against in the criminal justice system. In Illinois, it's been a series of shocking exonerations of innocent people who are on death row. He was involved very intimately in drafting and passing legislation that requires the video taping of police interrogations and confessions in all capital cases. And he also was one of the co-sponsors of this very comprehensive reform or the death penalty system in Illinois, which many people say may trigger the retreat on the death penalty in many other states."

Barack on Drugs:
Fairly liberal drug policy but with some sanity. Barack has some good points on this issue.

Barack on Education:
Good intentions, but again too much government intervention for me.
Barack on energy:
He supports energy independence. In my opinion Barack Obama has a good grasp on energy policy.

To see the rest of the issues, please click the link below:
Here is Barack Obama "on the issues".

Some more interesting developments from Iraq. Let's support our troops by getting the job done and bringing them home ASAP! I know we probably will be in Iraq for the long term and have bases there, but I think our troops need a break and better rotations.


Who's Undermining the 'Surge'?
Quote:
By Leila Fadel, McClatchy Newspapers
Fri Dec 7, 6:11 PM ET



BAGHDAD — The Baghdad neighborhood of Saidiyah is becoming the focal point of a growing battle between the U.S. military and the U.S.-backed Iraqi government over the burgeoning number of U.S.-financed armed groups known as "concerned local citizens."

U.S. officers in the neighborhood said that the Shiite Muslim-led government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki is undermining American efforts to bolster the volunteers, who are predominantly Sunni Muslims. At the same time, U.S. soldiers acknowledged that some of the volunteers could be sympathizers of al Qaida in Iraq and other anti-government organizations.

Saidiyah, in southwest Baghdad , remains a battle zone between Sunni and Shiite forces in a capital where sectarian cleansing has turned most formerly mixed neighborhoods into either Sunni or Shiite enclaves.


"Saidiyah is that final frontier, which is why it has the attention of the prime minister," said Lt. Col. Johnnie Johnson , the commander for the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Ga. The 4-64 took over U.S. responsibilities in the neighborhood more than a month ago. "The government is still stoking the fires of sectarianism," he said....

Full Article

Excerpt from the CAIR letter sent to the advertisers on Michael Savage's Show:

"Savage's shouted anti-Muslim attacks included:

"I'm not gonna put my wife in a hijab. And I'm not gonna put my daughter in a burqa. And I'm not gettin on my all-fours and braying to Mecca. And you could drop dead if you don't like it. You can shove it up your pipe. I don't wanna hear anymore about Islam. I don't wanna hear one more word about Islam. Take your religion and shove it up your behind. I'm sick of you."

"What kind of religion is this? What kind of world are you living in when you let them in here with that throwback document in their hand, which is a book of hate. Don't tell me I need reeducation. They need deportation. I don't need reeducation. Deportation, not reeducation. You can take C-A-I-R and throw 'em out of my country. I'd raise the American flag and I'd get out my trumpet if you did it. Without due process. You can take your due process and shove it."

"What sane nation that worships the U.S. constitution, which is the greatest document of freedom ever written, would bring in people who worship a book that tells them the exact opposite. Make no mistake about it, the Quran is not a document of freedom. The Quran is a document of slavery and chattel. It teaches you that you are a slave."

To listen to these and other bigoted statements by Savage, click here."

END OF EXCERPT I AM JUST REPORTING THE NEWS! DON'T SUE ME MICHAEL WEINER!

Here's my take on this situation. Michael has the right to say everything quoted above. CAIR also has the right to bring it to the attention to the people who advertise on Weiner's show. Don't cry Michael! You said some vile things that make you sound like a Nazi, even if it was some "Schick" that you do. You said the words! Now stand by them like a man! Like the tough guy you claim to be.

Weiner aka Savage has the right to bring a lawsuit against CAIR, as frivolous as it may be. I don't even think there is a precedent for it. If there was, how come Rush didn't sue anyone for copyright infringement, during the "Michael J. Fox incident"? More recently the "Imus Incident" and the "Dog The Bounty Hunter incident" , how come there was no lawsuit for copyright infringement then when those recordings were all over the place? All CAIR did was record different excerpts and separate them by a beep. Then they rightly sent it to Weiner's advertisers, that's their right too and I wish them success. I wish Savage no success in this lawsuit. In my opinion, he's nothing more than a loud mouthed Chicken Hawk with a Nazi type mindset. It's a shame he thinks this way when he's Jewish. Especially with regard to the hell that his people went through with the Holocaust and the Nazi attitude that existed toward them then.

What would happen if a talk show host replaced the "Muslim/Islamic" words and context in Savage's statements and rants, with words like "Jews" and "Blacks" and the same derogatory comments about their customs that Weiner made? They would be off of the Air IMMEDIATELY!

I don't want Savage off of the air, his show is somewhat entertaining . I also like to hear the attitudes of the people that call him. It's very enlightening. When it was his time to be the tough guy that he claims to be, and serve our country, he allegedly did the following: (citation; wikepedia under the "Shift In Philosphy" click here)

Ron Paul speaks out about the Youtube debate:

Message from Ron (12/3/07)

Want to know a secret? There were two moments I especially enjoyed at the CNN/YouTube debate -- despite my frustration at some of the questions, and the maldistribution of time.

First, I was pleased at John McCain's attack, which he clearly had planned. Not because that sort of stream-of-consciousness nonsense about Hitler and WWII -- when the neocons openly want what they call WW IV! Are we to forget that the first war crime charged at Nuremberg was waging aggressive war?

I mean this: mainstream politicians NEVER attack an opponent they think is far behind. The McCain campaign, we've heard, is worried sick about New Hampshire, and they thought a slam at me would help. Ha! Of course, it only strengthened our forces.

Then, after the debate, Rudy Giuliani walked up to me and said, "Oooh, you sure have a LOT of supporters." It’s only the beginning, I told him.

Indeed, he could have told that by the crowd outside after the debate. Mitt Romney had a few people, but no one else did. We, on the other hand, had about 500 enthusiastic revolutionaries, plus a boat, a trolley, and two planes towing lighted signs. As I looked out at the crowd, I thought: the establishment has no idea of what they are facing. We have an army of freedom, prosperity, and peace. As the LA Times political blog noted the other day, the British also thought they had no problem with the Americans--until Yorktown.

But we have an astoundingly short time before the first contests. The Iowa caucuses are on January 3, the New Hampshire primary is on January 8, and Nevada and South Carolina are both on January 19. We have only 30 days to stake our claim to the nomination, and to the new America that restores the ideals of the founders, and leads the world through free enterprise, a sound dollar, the rule of law, and peaceful example. Not through inflation and bombs.

Help me surprise the neocons and all the establishment with our success. Help me build the foundation for the America we all want. Send your most generous contribution: https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate. The military-industrial complex, the biased media, the big banks, the Fed, the waterboarders, and the IRS don’t like what we’re doing. But every good American is applauding us, and daring to hope for a better future.

Please, help me give it to them, to us, to all Americans to come. Keep this revolution growing and winning: https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate.

Sincerely,

Ron

I have started a new message board/forum to supplement this blog. The message board will not replace the blog, it will only supplement it. My goal for the Forum is to be able to discuss the issues on Tony's Show in real time. Who knows maybe even the "Emperor", Dave, or Christie will even check in themselves and give their opinions! "All we ask from you is 4 hours a day" to particpate and call Tony's show and to share your opinions in the Forum.

I know to some so-called conservatives or so-called patriots, I may seem like a Liberal, well I am a Liberal in the if you use the definition from the dictionary correctly. Liberal defined.
Here is my short argument in favor of allowing illegal aliens to apply for, pay for, and pass the test to get a valid driver's license:

1: Additional Revenues for each state.
2: A great way to track illegal aliens, just issue a license with a code, for example put a "UD" on the license, use for facial recognition to track international and national criminals and terrorists.
3: They are driving now anyway without a license or insurance, why not help normalize the situation for American citizens and the illegal aliens by letting them have a license and insurance without fear of deportation? This way, if they have an accident it will be paid for by the insurance company. Otherwise the victim, the American citizen has no legal recourse to get the money to repair their vehicle or themselves. This leaves the American citizen stuck to pay for the repairs on the vehicle and/or medical expenses out of pocket. Maybe one can obtain a judgment against the illegal alien, but how can you collect on it when the person is paid in cash and has no bank account?

How are we going to deport approximately 20 million illegal aliens? Our police agencies seem pretty well taxed as well as our military. Due to the high cost of the war in Iraq, I am sure there are budgetary constraints to adding more manpower. How are we going to get the manpower to stop every Hispanic looking person walking the street and ask for their papers? Is this how we want America to be?
If they are here working and being otherwise law abiding residents, why not try to normalize them? Think of the larger picture! We are getting inferior and dangerous products from China. Why not revitalize our manufacturing economy by having a symbiotic relationship with the illegal aliens that want to strive for the American Dream? Let's start seeing items in Walmart and other stores saying "Made In America"! Let's be more of a country that produces and exports goods instead of being a country dependent on other countries and having trade deficits.I think this would help our economy in a major way. We can use the additional revenue to really SECURE OUR PORTS AND BORDERS! We can also build our military up with additional manpower. With the neo-clown's, colonialist and interventionist policies in force, we are going to need more manpower!

AP Nov. 13: Supporters of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto scuffle with police at a road block in front of her house in Lahore, Pakistan. LAHORE, Pakistan — Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto called on military leader Pervez Musharraf to step down as president and said she would never serve as prime minister under him, FOX News confimed early Tuesday. Bhutto has long called for Musharraf to step down as army chief and become a civilian president but it was the first time she had called for him to quit as president altogether, Reuters reported. "It is time for him to go. He must quit as president," Bhutto said in a telephone interview with the wire service. She was speaking from the city of Lahore where she was placed under house arrest hours before a planned protest against the Nov. 3 imposition of emergency rule. Bhutto also said it was likely her Pakistan People's Party would boycott January parliamentary elections and indicated that she wanted to build an alliance with other opposition leaders, including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to restore democracy. "It seems unlikely that the People's Party will participate in the upcoming elections," Bhutto said by telephone to a group of reporters. Her statements came after authorities mounted a massive security operation Tuesday to hold Bhutto under house arrest for the second time in five days and prevent her from staging a 185-mile protest march against Musharraf's emergency rule. "Musharraf himself is a hurdle in the way of democracy," she told private Geo TV network in a phone interview from the house in Lahore where she is held. "In order to save Pakistan, Musharraf should resign." Asked whether she would serve under Musharraf in a future government, she said "No." Bhutto accused Musharraf of imposing martial law when he declared emergency rule on Nov. 3 — suspending citizens' rights and rounding up thousands of his opponents. "I will prefer to live in jails here rather than being taken abroad," Bhutto said when asked about reports that she might be deported. "I will not leave my people even if I am arrested." She demanded that Musharraf resign both as president and army chief and that an "interim government of national consensus" be set up to supervise the elections. "Musharraf should leave both the offices," she said. Bhutto said her party had contacted other opposition groups, including the party of cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, for setting up a "coalition of interests" against Musharraf. The Associated Press contributed to this report

Hannity gave this guy a softball interview and Dog gave the usual "I'm not a racist" (even though I said ni**er about 20 times in one paragraph) B.S. line.
Then Dog went on to say that he didn't know it was such a hurtful word. This is the same Dog that was allegedly a 1% 'er and in a gang in prison. Yeah I'm sure the outlaw bikers and the white prison gang was just "kickin it with the homies" in prison and on the street and calling them ni**er, in a "loving, friendly way".
I would have more respect for the Dog, if he just came out and said that it was a private, heated conversation with his son and it's none of any one's business what he says in a private conversation.
My bottom line.............. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". I am sure that there are families on all sides of the color and ethnic spectrum , that have had the same or similar conversation with their loved ones. Should they loose their jobs and livelihood over a private conversation with a family member? NO!
So I say, give the man a pass, he did his little apology thing and says he's going to buried with the slaves on George Washington's plantation ( what a crock of S***!). Give the Dog his show back and
LEAVE THE DOG ALONE!

As a person of mixed white and black ancestry I'd like to give you my unique point of view regarding Imus and the race issue.

On Tony's show, people have said that Sharpton & Jackson have set race relations back and caused divisiveness between the races, that divisiveness has been here way before Sharpton & Jackson. The divide between the races would be here with or without Sharpton & Jackson and may still be here long after they are gone. Most white people that I know who hate Sharpton & Jackson, already have a racial chip on their shoulders and tend to be bigots anyway. So what does it matter what Sharpton & Jackson say?

I feel that it is both insulting and ignorant to think that just because Sharpton & Jackson voice their opinions, that most or all of Black Americans feel the same way too, they are individuals just like white people. That would be same as black people thinking that all or most White Americans feel and think the same way David Duke and Tom Metzger do, and that Duke & Metzger are the spokesmen for White Americans.

In my experience most whites are fine with vocal, self deprecating black spokesmen who drink the neo-con cool aid, such as Ken Hamblin(The Black Avenger), Armstrong Williams, Allan Keyes, Larry Elder, and that reverend Jesse Lee Peterson who is always on Sean Hannity's show, insulting black folks. These white talk show hosts who interview the above people get this happy feeling with these "good boys" and pat them on their backs and encourage themto rip into Jackson & Sharpton. Why doesn't white America think that the aforementioned represent the Black community? Why do they just think that Sharpton & Jackson do? Does it fit their own racial paradigm?

In my personal experience it is also true that when you as a black man speak out and do not stay in your place, and smile and grin and bear the B.S. , all of the sudden you are unreasonable, out of control, angry etc. Why is it when a black person stands up for themselves some whites feel that way? Do they feel that blacks should just be happy to be here in America, instead of living in the wilds of Africa? Do they feel that they have given blacks "everything" so they should just sit there and shut up, be happy and smile and say "yes massa"? I have also heard white people ask on Tony's show why don't blacks protest against Sharpton & Jackson, do these same white people protest against David Duke and Tom Metzger?

Freedom of speech has prevailed. How? Imus had the freedom of speech to say what he said on the air and Sharpton and Jackson utilized their freedom of speech to protest against what Imus said and call for his firing. CBS and NBC made their own choices to fire Imus. I disagree with their decision to suspend/fire Imus. Personally I didn't care that he said that, I am sure he has said worse. I don't listen to his show that often but other people do listen to his show and that is their own individual choice.

Just 40 short years ago Sharpton & Jackson may have been lynched (literally) for saying what they say today. I disagree with Sharpton & Jackson and I do feel that sometimes they are in the "struggle" more for themselves, but I also give them the credit for having the guts to go out there and fight for their beliefs and put their lives on the line to do so. So yes freedom of speech has prevailed and overall freedom has prevailed for all Americans.

This is an excellent article about the demographics and the voting tendencies for this last campaign. I think there is a good chance for a third party that was Moderate and somewhat Libertarian, but reasonably so. In my opinion, the time seems to be ripe for a third party, there are large blocks of unhappy people from both the Democrats and Republicans that could support such a party.

11/11/06

We aren't supposed to make any generalities based on race, color or creed, just to begin with. Invidious comparisons can be made, and indeed are every day made, by individuals. Still, institutions go to extraordinary lengths to avoid remarking differences. Indeed, many super-cautious universities even forbid applicants to submit photographs, on the basis of which an official at the Department of Admissions might say -- or whisper, or just think quietly -- that this applicant is black/Indian/Chinese ...

Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid of Nev., center, speaks at the Library of Congress in Washington in this Jan. 18, 2006, file photo, to outline their agenda for reform in the wake of the scandal involving former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. From left are: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., Reid, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., and Rep. James E. Clyburn, D-SC. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

So what I want to know is: How is it that on page P-7 of The New York Times for Nov. 9, 2006, I can find out how many people voted Democratic and how many Republican, nationwide, among: whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians; men, women; 18- to 29-year-olds, 60 and older; didn't complete high school, did, some college, college graduate, postgraduate; Protestants, white Protestants, Catholics, white Catholics, Jews, white evangelicals; family income under $15,000, under $30,000, under $50,000, under $75,000, under $100,000, over $100,000; Easterners, Midwesterners, Southerners, Westerners; gays, lesbians, bisexuals.

Begin with truly sensitive questions, bearing on race, ethnicity, color.

What about Jewish voters? It is assumed, is it not, that cosmopolitan experience and education wipe out traditional tribal allegiances? Well, no group could be better educated and more cosmopolitan than the Jews, but they voted 88 percent Democratic.

Is it as easy as that Jews are especially well educated, and would incline to do the ... intelligent thing?

rest of the story

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A pair of homicide bombs ripped through a crowd of would-be police recruits in Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least 35, as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki rebuked lawmakers for putting party and sectarian loyalty above that to the government and said he was planning a sweeping cabinet reshuffle.

Another 56 people were wounded in the blast, in which the bombers detonated explosives strapped to their bodies simultaneously at exactly 10 a.m., police Lt. Maitham Abdul-Razaq said.

The attack outside the police recruiting station off western Baghdad's Nissur Square was one of several Sunday in the capital, where sectarian violence kills scores of people each week.
Just south of the city, police were searching for gunmen who killed 10 Shiite travelers and kidnapped about 50 others Saturday night along a notoriously dangerous stretch of highway.

The spiraling sectarian violence has put alont onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">-Maliki under intense pressure from all sides. Responding to questions from lawmakers during a more-than one-hour closed session, he ordered them to stop criticizing his government and declare their loyalty to a unified Iraq — not their religious sects or political parties, two members of parliament told The Associated Press.

(Story continues below)

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