http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/28/123825/667/742/543355 # The U.S. government has officially removed Nelson Mandela from the terrorist watch list.
"Today the United States moved closer at last to removing the great shame of dishonouring this great leader by including him on our government's terror watch list," said Senator John Kerry.
The bill now heads to the White House, where it is expected to be signed by President George W. Bush in time for the anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner's 90th birthday on July 18.
# Billionaire T. Boone Pickens has backed away from a $1 million dollar offer he made to anybody who could disprove allegations made by the "Swiftboat Veterans for Truth" against John Kerry.
A group of Swift boat veterans sympathetic to Mr. Kerry sent Mr. Pickens a letter last week taking him up on the challenge. In 12 pages, plus a 42-page attachment of military records and other documents, they identified not just one but ten lies in the group’s campaign against Mr. Kerry. They offered to meet with him to provide Mr. Kerry’s journals and videotapes from Vietnam and a copy of his full military record certified by the Navy – a key demand of Mr. Pickens and veterans who believe Mr. Kerry lied about his service to win his military decorations.
Mr. Pickens replied with a one-page letter, thanking the veterans for their research and their service, but politely saying there had been a misunderstanding. “Key aspects of my offer of $1 million have not been accurately reported,” he wrote.
He previously weasled out of this bet once before when John Kerry himself took Pickens up on the offer. I guess there are some things money can't buy. Like dignity. Or class. Or humility.
I threw in a comment Scout Finch appreciated. It's nice to see that higher profile bloggers have noticed what Kerry and his crew have been up to.