Monday morning roundup

A few interesting stories I've noticed this morning.

From AlterNet.org: “Is the US Heading for 'Developing Nations' Inequality Levels?”

In 1985 there were just 13 US billionaires. Now there are more than 1,000. In 2005 the US saw 227,000 new millionaires being created. One survey showed that the wealth of all US millionaires was $30 trillion, more than the GDPs of China, Japan, Brazil, Russia and the EU combined.

The Raw Story has “US plans massive arms deal for Saudis”

Congress will be asked by the Bush Administration to approve $20 billion in advanced weapons and planes for Saudi Arabia, at the same time that Israel, along with Congress, are nervous about Saudi Arabia's role in the war effort, the New York Times will report Saturday.

From Mother Jones “Cheney Big Brother?”:

There are growing signs that Cheney was behind the whole incredible series of events that culminated with Gonzales and former chief of staff Andy Card being sent to a nearly comatose Ashcroft's bedside on March 2004 with an envelope with the orders to reauthorize domestic spying program.

From the Huffington Post, “McCain Puts Straight Talk Express on eBay”

In what some political observers are calling an ominous sign for his cash-starved White House bid, Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) today posted his campaign bus, The Straight Talk Express, on the Internet auction site eBay.

BagNews analyzes the meaning behind the image in President Bush's recent photo op with wounded veterans in “'W' On His Own Two Feet”

It portrays what appears to be a pot-bellied president being propped up by the amputated veterans, each seemingly stronger and more stable than he.