"The State, completely in its genesis, essentially and almost completely during the first stages of its existence, is a social institution, forced by a victorious group of men on a defeated group, with the sole purpose of regulating the dominion of the victorious group over the vanquished, and securing itself against the revolt from within and attacks from abroad.  

The world arrived here more than a century ago with the gold rush and later the railroad. Yet one aspect of American life did not come to town until 1996, the year Sarah Palin ran for mayor and Wasilla got its first local lesson in wedge politics. 

Palin's daughter is pregnant, get over it. 

The 17-year-old daughter of Alaska governor Sarah Palin is pregnant. If not for the fact that Senator John McCain has chosen Palin to be his running mate, would we care? I doubt it. 

from Crikey …..

Union buster Iemma writes for scab Herald 

Russia's conflict with Georgia is the sign of a 'weak' Russian nation, not a newly assertive one, and Moscow now has put its place in the world order at risk, the top U.S. diplomat for relations with the country said in an interview yesterday. 

Former London mayor Ken Livingstone is to work as a consultant for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. 

Mr Livingstone, who has long been a supporter of Mr Chavez, will advise pro-government mayors in the capital Caracas on urban planning. 

Republican presumptive presidential nominee John McCain introduced first-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential choice here Friday at a raucous rally before thousands of his supporters, saying she is the "running mate who can best help me shake up Washington.'' 

A former US marine accused of killing unarmed Iraqi prisoners has been acquitted after a ground-breaking trial in which a civilian jury determined whether he was guilty of war crimes. 

Prosecutors in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, told the jury that Nazario had ignored rules about how to treat prisoners and ordered the execution-style killing of four "unarmed, submissive, docile" detainees. 

The US State Department yesterday warned that disclosure of secret information in the case of a British resident said to have been tortured before he was sent to Guantanamo Bay would cause "serious and lasting damage" to security relations between the countries.  

Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson today said he'd be 'very happy' if Peter Costello sought the leadership. 

The battle for the Liberal's top job continues following comments by Liberal frontbencher Tony Abbott, who declared Mr Costello the party's 'best political asset'. 

The Editor,

Sydney Morning Herald.                                                          August 29, 2008.  

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It has been a bad week for those who still believe that Afghanistan constitutes the altruistic and winnable battlefront of the 'war on terror'.  

There were three simultaneous tasks awaiting her when she walked out on stage in her tangerine pants suit. 

She had to dispel any notion that she was not now solidly with Barack Obama. Any sign of doubt would fuel efforts by the Republicans to chip away at his support and legitimacy as the Democratic nominee. 

The agony and the ecstasy of politics is being played out in exquisite detail in NSW as we move towards the end game of Morris Iemma's bold plan to privatise the state's electricity assets. 

Political aficionados are in heaven. Macquarie Street is dominated by one question: "Will Barry back it?"