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If it doesn't work here, why would it work there? | A game of European missile shield 'Let's Pretend' ASK THIS One result of Putin’s proposals for an installation in Azerbaijan – whether workable or not – may be to derail Bush’s plans until he leaves office. 
The environment and the 2008 elections | Coal to liquids—silver bullet or coal-state pork? ASK THIS Making liquid fuel out of coal is a costly process both in dollars and energy expended, and it’s no environmental bargain, either. So why do Barack Obama and others favor it? (The first in an occasional series on environmental issues in the 2008 elections.)
Look for profit on investment, not sales | Stymied in reporting on gas prices? Try these questions ASK THIS Henry Banta: 'The shift of billions of dollars from average Americans to the shareholders and managers of oil companies is important news, as are the reasons behind it. This deserves far better coverage than it has gotten.'
Making votes count | HR 811 would require a paper trail ASK THIS Some in Congress, like Rush Holt, are calling for stringent vote security measures for states that use electronic voting machines, to be in place by 2008. It has a majority of House members as co-sponsors, and Dianne Feinstein says she will introduce a similar bill in the Senate. Reporters might find out what House and Senate members in their area have to say about a bill like this.
Will it work? | How to assess an immigration proposal ASK THIS Too much attention has been focused on the political accommodations involved in achieving a bipartisan agreement on an immigration overhaul – and too little on what would actually work. Here are some questions reporters – and the public – can use to assess how likely any immigration proposal is to achieve its stated goals.
More digging needed | Tenet's near-admission of torture ASK THIS He insists that 'we don’t torture,' but the former CIA director has repeatedly confirmed that in the wake of 9/11 he oversaw the use of morally questionable interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects. 'Whatever you call them,' Tenet says, 'it was authorized.' The press shouldn’t just leave it at that. We must demand to know of him -- and those who allegedly gave him permission: What exactly have you done in our name?
The care crisis | What about problems of working mothers in your area? ASK THIS Traditionally, mothers or mothers-to-be have faced what researchers call a ‘maternal wall’—either pushed out by inflexible scheduling or penalized in other ways. What’s the story in your community? E.J. Graff has questions that can get you started on some very strong news stories. [Last in a series]
Greasing palms, 21st Century version | Press gives a free pass to citizens groups allied with telecoms ASK THIS At a New Jersey utilities board hearing on cable franchises, three guys from Verizon – the elephant in the room – go unnoticed by the regulators, and by the press.
Third in a series | The Care Crisis: How do employers deal with working families? ASK THIS Some employers have creative policies to accommodate family needs but others are inflexible. E.J. Graff says this is a subject that needs more reporting, and offers some good questions for starters. Third in a series
Second in a series | How is the 'care gap' handled in your area? ASK THIS The Care Crisis: What resources does your community have for children growing up in working families? Second in a series.
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