Catch-up on the links

Blogger acted up on me last night, so the four prior posts were all worked out ahead of time. Then I gave up. Here's some quick story links before they get much older.

First the army has decide to rebid the Halliburton contracts. Halliburton says they probably won't be involved in the rebid process, especially if the Army breaks up those contracts to much. Many have said that Halliburton is overstretched by its current situation.

A third judge has overturned Washington's ban on same sex marriage.

[Supreme Court Judge Richard] Hicks ruled that the state cannot give a privilege such as marriage to one group of people and not to others without good reason for the discrimination.

He said that while encouraging more family stability is a legitimate interest, the ban on same-sex marriage does "not even bear a rational relationship to that interest." He said the law more likely "weakens family stability when we consider what family really is" -- something no longer limited to a man, a woman and a child.

George Bush's people are hinting that he will back out of the middle debate, the one where independents ask the candidates questions. Apparently Bush is afraid of real questions.

Perhaps most importantly, the Log Cabin Republicans have refused to back George Bush.

Rueters reports that many aid organizations are going to pack up and leave Iraq. Their reason? Concern for safety.

Finally, the Washington Post has an article that helps define Bush's claims of opportunity for America:

Once you comprehend that the president is peddling increased risk rather than opportunity as the term is commonly understood, Bushonomics becomes crystal clear. It explains the administration's assault on governmental programs offering security. Viewed in this light, the administration's decision to raise seniors' monthly Medicare premiums by 17.5 percent the day after the president's acceptance speech isn't hypocritical in the slightest. It's just a way to prod seniors to stop lolling around and to take more responsibility for their care and feeding.

Go read.