New Fall Television Season

New shows are coming but there's the inevitable excitement about returning programs that have kept us yearning for fall. Or winter, if you're a 24 fan...

Heroes Season 3 begins in just under a month. Fans of Prison Break will get their new season beginning on Labor Day. Football arrives (whew!) next month, and those medical drams like House will be back on the airwaves...

Speaking of new shows, can't wait to see Fringe. This will be the breakout hit series, to be sure!

Russia Gets Yet Another Warning from President Bush

Bush Warns Russia on Georgia, Sends Rice to Tbilisi (Update1)
By Holly Rosenkrantz
Aug. 13 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush said the U.S. would stand behind its ally Georgia and warned Russia that it must respect the ``territorial integrity'' of the Black Sea nation.
A U.S. military cargo plane is heading to Georgia with relief supplies and Bush said he directed Defense Secretary Robert Gates to organize a humanitarian aid effort. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to Georgia to confer with President Mikheil Saakashvili.
``Russia's ongoing actions raise serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region,'' Bush said today at the White House in Washington. He said he was concerned about reports that Russian forces continue to move through Georgia in spite of an agreement on a cease-fire.
``The United States and the world expect Russia to honor that commitment'' to halt military operations, Bush said. He held out the threat that the U.S. would withdraw its support for Russia's ``aspirations'' in diplomatic, economic and security organizations.
The conflict has further strained relations between the U.S., which considers Georgia one of its closest allies in the region, and its former Cold War foe.
Georgia today accused Russia of sending troops beyond the South Ossetia conflict zone in violation of a cease-fire agreed to by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Saakashvili. A Russian official denied the claim, saying the troops are eliminating Georgia's ability to renew attacks.
Russian Movements
``We're concerned about reports that Russian forces have entered and taken positions in the port city of Poti, that Russian armored vehicles are blocking access to that port, and that Russia is blowing up Georgian vessels,'' Bush said.
The European Union brokered the cease-fire to end five days of fighting. EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to push the peace deal forward. The 27-nation bloc may send military personnel to monitor the cease-fire, said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
Bush said he supports the EU effort and Rice will stop in Europe to coordinate efforts to end the crisis. The U.S. will use its aircraft and naval forces to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies, the president said.
``We expect Russia to honor its commitment to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance,'' he said.
To contact the reporters on this story: Holly Rosenkrantz in Washington at hrosenkrantz@bloomberg.net

Russian Advance Continues

There seems to be no end to the conflict between Russia and Georgia as Russian troops continued to battle Georgian forces today. Georgia is, of course, an ally of the United States.

President Bush took a diplomatic approach Sunday, expressing to Russian President Putin that the conflict was unacceptable. VP Cheney took things a step further, saying "Russian aggression must not go unanswered and that its continuation would have serious consequences for its relations with the United States, as well as (with) the broader international community''.

Here's the latest from the BBC....

Russians advance in west Georgia

Russian troops have entered Georgia from the breakaway region of Abkhazia, as the conflict between the two neighbours appears to be broadening.
Moscow said it had launched a raid on the town of Senaki to stop Georgia from attacking Russian forces in South Ossetia, another breakaway region.
As the fighting continued in South Ossetia, foreign envoys were pressing for a ceasefire in the conflict.
Each side accuses the other of carrying out atrocities in the region.
Fighting in South Ossetia erupted late last week when Georgia launched an overnight assault on the territory.

Russia, which supports the province's bid for separation, then bombed targets throughout Georgia and moved troops into the region and into Abkhazia.
On Monday EU envoys were attempting to broker an agreement between Tbilisi and Moscow.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili signed an EU-backed ceasefire, but the document was rejected by Moscow.
Leaders from both countries carried on a war of words, with Russia accusing Georgia of genocide, and President Saakashvili hitting back with claims of ethnic cleansing.
And Russia confirmed for the first time it had advanced beyond the borders of Abkhazia.
A Defence official told the Interfax news agency the move was intended to prevent Georgian troops from shelling South Ossetia, and to stop them from regrouping.
As well as launching an attack in Senaki, Russia also moved into the town of Zugdidi, according to Georgian officials.
The Russians issued an ultimatum to Georgian forces to disarm or face attack, and proceeded to occupy government buildings there, the Georgians said.
Fighting also continued in South Ossetia, with local officials accusing Georgia of bombing targets in the capital, Tskhinvali, by helicopter.

November Voter Turnout

It is clear by now that this year's presidential election will garner a higher than normal number of votes....

As of tonight's posting, the race is basically too close to call. What happens in September? Both candidates will get a bounce from their respective conventions and, following Labor Day, the race will be on in earnest.... Stay tuned...