From All Thing Considered we learn “CBS President Les Moonves says he’s thinking outside the box on how to replace outgoing anchor Dan Rather. . .”

Apparently one of the “boxes” involved is the cash box, as in the salary of the replacement. The anchors have a history of making millions annually for reading the 6 o’clock news, and Mr. Moonves is hoping to reduce that amount by featuring several people as news readers, so no one person is able to claim to represent the network’s new effort. It is quite likely that he intends to use three, or more people with a combined salary of less than one million dollars.

Silly rabbit, you thought screwing the workers was only for MalWart.

Both All Thing Considered and the Albuquerque Tribune have stories about Governor Bill Richardson proposing increasing the benefits for New Mexico’s Guard units and other New Mexicans serving in the military.

The big item is financing $250,000 insurance policies for the troops. There are also plans for halving the state income tax on military retirements and offering a check off on state tax returns for people to donate a portion of their refunds to a fund designed to help the families of those deployed.

Several other states are considering similar programs as it has become increasingly obvious that the Federal government has no plans for assisting those who serve.

As a veteran in a line of veterans that stretches back to the 18^th century in the US, I would tell those people who think flying the flag and slapping a yellow ribbon magnet on their vehicles is supporting the troops what they can do with their flag poles and ribbons, but I might get sued by a proctologist for practicing without guild membership. Remember, under Bush it’s okay for doctors and corporations to sue people, but bad for people to sue doctors or corporations.