High Radiation In Food Near Japanese Nuclear Plant

The Japanese government says there are higher than normal radioactive materials in spinach and milk on farms near the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

While officials downplayed the immediate risks to consumers, the findings are likely to further unsettle a nation worried about the long-term effects of the damaged nuclear power plants…

Yukio Edano, the chief cabinet secretary, said that spinach and milk were the only two products that were found with abnormally high levels of radioactive materials. The newly discovered radioactivity contained in the average amount of spinach and milk consumed during an entire year would be equal to the …

Historic Day in Egypt: Freest Vote Since 1952

Egyptians lined up to vote in the freest election since 1952 when the monarchy was ousted. Soldiers stood guard outside polling stations to ensure safety (pictured).

“This is a historic day for Egypt,” Deputy Prime Minister Yahya al-Gamal told reporters after casting his vote in Cairo. “I had never seen such large numbers of voters in Egypt. Finally, the people of Egypt have come to realize that their vote counts.”

Voters were asked to choose ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for the whole package of nine changes, which would open elections to independent candidates, impose presidential term limits and curtail 30-year-old emergency …

The Sharks Are Circling Mitt

by Stuart Shapiro

While most candidates seem reluctant to start their Republican presidential campaigns, that hasn’t stopped potential candidates from beginning to attack each other.  The target of the week is presumptive but vulnerable front-runner Mitt Romney.  The ones dealing it out are Jim DeMint and Mike Huckabee:

Yesterday, it was the news that Jim DeMint won’t support Mitt Romney unless Romney repudiates RomneyCare.

Now it’s Mike Huckabee’s turn. Speaking on Fox early Friday afternoon, the former Arkansas Governor said that RomneyCare is a “real problem for Mitt Romney” and that the reform plan is Romney’s “Achilles’ heel.”

Huckabee said …

California To Try Again For Marijuana Legalization

The group that tried and failed to pass Proposition 19 is working to get it on the ballot again in 2012.

The Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform 2012 aims to build on the unusual support that coalesced around Proposition 19, which would have allowed adults to grow and possess marijuana and authorized cities and counties to legalize and tax sales.

That campaign drew backing from the California NAACP and the Latino Voters League, which saw it as a way to end disproportionate arrests of African Americans and Latinos for marijuana crimes. Labor leaders in the Bay Area also got behind …

French President Nicolas Sarkozy Takes Action Against Libya

French planes were launched over Libya to enforce an air exclusion zone to stop Muammar Qadaffi’s attacks on rebels.

The planes were in the air not far from Libya this afternoon and were ready to carry out air strikes if there are orders from President Nicolas Sarkozy, a military official with knowledge of the preparations said on condition of anonymity.

Qaddafi’s forces attacked the rebel stronghold of Benghazi today in defiance of international demands for a cease-fire, television stations reported. Al Jazeera cited the head of the rebel council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, as saying bombing raids took place in the …

Rudy Giuliani Knocks Obama As Foreign Policy Weakling

Mr. 9/11, Rudy Giuliani, is in New Hampshire acting like a candidate.

He came down hard on President Barack Obama, mocking him as a stuttering weakling when it comes to Libya. He declared that Obama has displayed the worst presidential decision making on foreign policy he’s ever seen.

…

No-Fly Zone Could Cost Up To $1.2 Billion A Month

According to the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, the cost of a no-fly zone over Libya could be between $100 million and $300 million a week, or up to $1.2 billion a month. As AMERICAblog suggests:

How about some of those rich Arab oil governments in the region finance our operation to free their own brethren? I’m sorry, but if we’re going to play the “money is short, cut everything” game then we shouldn’t be joining open-ended operations if we’re talking about it potentially costing us billions upon billions of dollars.…

Newt Blasts Obama For Basketball “Fixation”

Because President Obama did this year what he did the last two years – appear on ESPN for seven minutes to pick NCAA winners — the right wing has gone crazy.

Charging that the administration appears ‘checked out,’ potential GOP White House candidate Newt Gingrich says President Obama has a ‘fixation with the Final Four’ at a time that he should be dealing with multiple crises, such as Libya.

Oh, so he had nothing to do with putting together a coalition to take a stand against Libya because he was too busy with brackets?  Oh, I see, it was the …

Ron Paul Says U.S. Actions On Libya Violate The Constitution

Congressman Ron Paul believes we are violating the Constitution by ceding authority to the United Nations, and that we are not obeying the limits of our founding document.

…

Headline Schmooze For March 18, 2011

by Barry Weintraub

Congress sets new D-day for government shutdown: April 8
Doesn’t April 1 seems more like the day for Congress to act?

U.N. approves military force as Gaddafi threatens rebels
From the shores of Montezuma to the skies??? of Tripoli

Haley Barbour’s son doesn’t want dad to run
And clearly, neither does Bill Kristol

Sharron Angle’s Bid for Nevada’s 2nd District Makes More Sense
Because all “lunatics” are local

Obama Trip Planned to Reinforce Latin American Economic Ties, Crime Concerns
And to get him as far from the radiation cloud as possible…

On Friday’s Radio Show…

• Alan weighs in on the debate over military intervention in Libya.

• Renowned physicist Michio Kaku sits down with Alan to discuss his new book, Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100.

• It’s the Friday Night Free-For-All!

…