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Was the President's slow response to Hurrican Katrina prompted by racism? There was an illuminating exchange today between Scott McClellan and a reporter named April at the White House press briefing today, illustrating how sensitive this issue still is for the WH.

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, April.

Q: Scott, the President said something very poignant in the Brian Williams interview, that he doesn't care what people call him, but don't call him a racist. Is he concerned, still three months after the Katrina relief effort, that there are still some African Americans who may feel that -- the same way as Kanye West, and in these next three years, what can the President do to help turn that feeling around?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, what we can continue to do is work with state and local officials and the people in the region to help rebuild New Orleans, and help rebuild the Gulf Coast region and Mississippi and Alabama. There's a large area that was affected by the hurricanes, and the President has talked about this before.

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["Best Books" - BL Show - 12/12/05]

A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz. Translated from Hebrew by Nicholas de Lange
Oz writes a powerful personal memoir of a writer growing up in the war-torn city of Jerusalem, with politics and humor around a clash of cultures.

A Great improvisation: Franklin, France and the Birth of America by Stacy Schiff.
An engaging history of Benjamin Franklin’s time as a statesman in France, A great Improvisation is replete with colorful characters and mysterious intrigues.

The End of the Line by Barry Lynn
The End of the Line takes a deep and in-depth look at the Anatomy of globalization, and the systems of dependence it has created.

Lessons in Taxidermy by Bee Lavender
In a memoir of her body’s failures, Lavender writes about sickness, survival, and the disassociation that comes with living daily with ones own mortality.

Garbage land: the secret trail of Trash by Elizabeth Royte
Where does our Garbage go after we set it on the curb? Garbage Land is a brilliant exploration into the soiled heart of the American trashcan.

One Woman’s Army by Janice Karpinski
A first person account of what went on in the now infamous Abu grab prison, Karpinski also talks about the experience of being a woman in the role as military commander.

The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto
A history of the Island of Manhattan, Shorto examines the beginnings of the city and the initial influences of Dutch settlers to its eventual formation.

The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer
A coming of age story about a boy without a father who turns to his relationships with his mother and with the family found in his uncles bar to see him through.

The pope’s Daughter by Carolyn Murphy
The story of Felice della Rovere, the illegitimate daughter of Pope Julius II, and her role in the renaissance.

The bomb in my Garden by Dr. Mahdi Obeidi
Dr. Obeidi, the chief weapon’s scientist for Saddam Hussain’s Iraq, tells his own story about WMD’s and Invasion.

The End of Poverty by Jeffery Sachs
Sachs examines Economic solutions to the world’s poverty problems.

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Mountains Beyond Mountains is the story of a Doctor who finds his calling in providing modern medicine to those who have the least access to it. It follows Dr. Paul Farmer, the co-founder of Partners in Health.

This weekend in the FT we caught our first view of the 2008 Beijing Olympic mascots. Judge for yourself; we think Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini are Cutecute!

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Forget all the best books, best movies, and unforgettable personalities lists of 2005 (haven't you already heard enough about Pope Benedict and Brokeback Mountain?)

Regret the Error brings you Crunks '05: The Year in Media Errors and Corrections. The winning correction (from the Denver Daily ...

Tough questions for President at third recent address on Iraq (Boston Globe)

Bush estimates Iraq death toll at 30,000 and likens country to revolution-era America (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Bush approval inches up to 42% (USA Today)

Supremes will hear DeLay redistricting case (Houston Chronicle)

New party ...