Elections In Turkey

“Democracy has passed a very important test.” Secular Turkey votes to have its current governing party - with Islamist roots - remain in power. BBC

Check out these two lead paragraphs about Bush’s Executive Order on how the C.I.A. can handle detainees suspected of terrorism. They sound like they’re about different stories. BBC New York Times The U.S. must reveal information about prisoners at Gitmo. New York Times It’s the foreign policy, stupid. Washington Post

China has its own “war on terror.” It’s brutal. (London) Times Al-Qaeda’s brutality in Iraq has one unintended consequence: It’s own members are becoming informants for U.S. forces. (London) Times

Maybe someone’s devoutly religious. Maybe they picked up some duty-free whiskey at the terminal before your flight. Whatever the case, Homeland Security will know about it - and keep the information for 15 years - when passengers fly to the U.S. Guardian

Identity thieves are looking at your Facebook and MySpace pages. BBC

Background on the NBA referee scandal.. And the referee himself. Sports Illustrated

Do you live in Richistan? Probably not. Guardian If you do, you could probably afford the world’s most expensive prosti- um, escort - pictured here: Esquire

This preacher really knocks ‘em out. Check out the big guy who said, “Hit me two times!!”

The Search Continues..

The search continues for three missing U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Al-Qaeda claims it is holding them. MSNBC

Robert Mugabe can barely sustain his own brutal dictatorship, let alone any type of development. But oddly enough, Zimbabwe elected was chosen to head the U.N. commission of Sustainable Development. Reuters

Careful, there’s another risk in “going down.” Time

Going green is great. But as with anything, there are consequences. ABC

It’s one thing to have your customer service rep live in Bangalore or Mumbai. It’s another to have your news reporter live there when their beat is the Pasadena, CA City Council. Los Angeles Times

Equity group buys Chrysler. Financial Times

The price of stamps went up 16 months ago. The price goes up again today. And now there are “forever stamps.” AP/MSNBC

It’s always better when other people have friends like these, and you’re just a spectator.

Can We Talk?

After resistance talking to Syria and Iran - a recommendation of the Iraq Study Group - the U.S. will talk to the two countries about Iraq. Washington Post This change of course, along with the change in policy over North Korea, isn’t a change that happened overnight. New York Times And now there are doubts about North Korea’s uranium enrichment program. Washington Post

Worldwide markets collectively freaked out on Tuesday when China’s stocks took a dip on Tuesday. Did the rest of the world overreact? Time Amidst its financial ascendance, China proclaimed socialism for another 100 years. Telegraph U.S. stocks to open today lower as Asian stocks have another tough day, but reports and deals could help keep U.S. number up. CNNMoney

McCain tells Letterman he’s officially in the race for president. Presumably, McCain didn’t announce on a news show because he’s already been running for months now. Late Show (video)

Do you have to practice what you preach? Especially if you’ve won an Oscar for your preachin’? Al Gore’s Tennessee home bill averages about $1200 a month. AP/Yahoo

One in four U.S. women age 14 - 59 have HPV, an STD that could lead to cervical cancer. Reuters

Japanese cars top the list of reliable rides according to a Consumer Reports survey. MSNBC Here are the picks: Consumer Reports

What Do You Think? Check this out: A man is suing his ex-fiancé because she won’t return the $48,000 engagement ring he bought her two years ago. No word about who broke it off, but does he have a right to ask for it back? Is an engagement ring given on the condition the couple walks down the aisle? Or once the rock is given, it’s hers even if they go splitsville. Let us know at Joe.


Feeling a little dirty? Being a little sinful? Look out for The Bible Thumpers! This God Squad is out to kick ass and save souls.



The Morning Joe will be taking a break on Monday, March 5. We’ll be posting again on Thursday, March 8. Have a good week!