Due to personal reasons, I regret to say my tenure as a T.M.V. contributor has come to an end. Thanks to my colleagues and readers, it’s truly been an honor and a BLAST to write on Joe’s great site I’ve admired so over the years. Best luck for the future to all! I’ll still be blogging at my personal site, ZenithBlog.com, and I’m on the staff of an unofficial Mitt Romney campaign support blog at MyManMitt.com See you around, everyone!

The New York Times: It seemed like a perfect formula for good publicity: A national sweepstakes would award a $25,000 United States savings bond to the first American baby born in 2007, courtesy of the toy chain Toys “R� Us and its Babies “R� Us division. Instead, after disqualifying a Chinese-American baby girl born in New York Downtown Hospital at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s, the toy company finds itself caught in the glare of the immigration debate, stumbling...

Really, couldn’t the whack-a-doo wing of the Democratic Party have tried to keep the promises of their more sane-minded members: bipartisanship, a reasonable debate, and so on? they, they, they let the hurricane do the ethnic cleansing, because then they’re, all they’re doing is not resisting it, that’s why I call ethnic cleansing by inaction, and I know that there are people who were very happy that, as a result, … [inaudible] … [so that] Louisiana would become...

On the first episode of my Zenith Podcast, I opine on the first day for Pelosi & Co. Some good, some disappointment. Later in the episode, it morphs into a rant about the idea of “majority vs. minority” in American politics that focuses on the maxim if Americans elect a mix, we want a mix, and extends beyond parties or current circumstances. Give it a listen!

May the year 2007 bring us more deposed tyrants and fewer new plots in Arlington. Upon this hope, we can all agree. Best wishes for 2007 and a cordial goodnight to all!

Several Senators have taken it upon themselves to travel the world, negotiating with radical states behind the Administration’s back because they think it’s the appropriate measures for one individual in one house of one branch of the U.S. government to take.In reality, their glamorous actions only threaten the effectiveness of American foreign policy: an effect that such trips in the past have wrought upon our dealings with Iraq, Iran, and others. Get the full story.

Iraqis, as a collective, have been thrust into a very violent mentality. Frequent mortar attacks on their neighborhoods and a void of dominant police have created a social and ideological climate of violence in Iraq. Breaking Saddam’s neck to thunderous applause nationwide can only contribute to what seems to be an almost-Roman integration of violence into culture. In a time when the Coalition and the world are trying to “civilize� Iraq, won’t hanging Hussein only provide...

Over on my blog, I take a look at two pieces that bring some of the Barack Obama hype back down to Earth. I am once again inclined to issue an “amen.” His whacko extremist-left, borderline socialist agenda for America aside, maybe the lovable, bright-eyed puppy dog from Illinois with the eagerly-wagging tail should focus on passing some significant legislation here and there before he thinks he’s qualified to be Commander in Chief. As an Illinois resident, I percieved Obama was...

The Times Online: “Russia defies West and goes ahead with nuclear fuel sale to Iran“ RUSSIA is to begin supplying Iran with nuclear fuel early next year despite mounting concern in the West that this could accelerate Tehran’s plans to build a nuclear bomb. Sergei Shmatko, head of Atomstroyexport, Russia’s state nuclear fuel exporter, has said preparations to send fuel to Iran would start next month and the first shipment was expected to reach the Islamic republic by March....

Yet another progressive, right-thinking action from Ambassador Bolton – it’s just a shame he won’t be around much longer to continue combating anti-Americanism and Islamofascism within the global scale. My blog has the full story plus commentary. (Note: Sorry for the quick pointer post – I hardly feel like I’m living up to the effort of my TMV cobloggers – but I’ve been up to my ears in schoolwork.)

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish leaders called Sunday for an end to Iraq’s sectarian conflict and vowed to track down those responsible for the war’s deadliest attack. … “We promise the great martyrs that we will chase the killers and criminals, the terrorists, Saddamists and Takfiri (Sunni extremists) for viciously trying to divide you,” Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Sunni Parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and Kurdish President Jalal...

In short, I’m shocked. Unfortunately, my time is scarce for blogging these days. When I came back to blog here after a recent and extended leave of absence, I quickly and easily noticed a less moderate tone. Every coblogger that posts with any regularity offers an extensively left-wing viewpoint, and (here’s the real offense) often stooping to ridiculous levels to claw at the knees of the Republicans. As evidence, let’s turn to a man for whom I hold great personal respect, our host...

First to fight for the right, And to build the Nation’s might, And The Army Goes Rolling Along Proud of all we have done, Fighting till the battle’s won, And the Army Goes Rolling Along. Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey! The Army’s on its way. Count off the cadence loud and strong (TWO! THREE!) For where e’er we go, You will always know That The Army Goes Rolling Along. From the Halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli, We will fight our country’s battles On...

(Cross-posted from Teenage Pundit) The ad parodies several of [Democratic candidate] Ford’s political positions through mock interviews with people defending or agreeing with him. “Terrorists need their privacy,” a woman indignantly insists. “Ford’s right,” says a hunter , “I do have too many guns.” A Wilford Brimley look-alike declares, “Canada can take care of North Korea — they’re not busy.” And a bare-shouldered bimbo squeals,...

To open up my new digs, I discuss the recent Supreme Court decision stating police officers essentially need no longer wait for homeowners to open their door before knocking it down.

To help launch my new blog, Force Out, give a gander to my scathing writeup of Emmy recipient Blythe Danner’s political outburst. If you like what you see, well, in the words of a friend as she launched her blog: Links are an important way to make a voice heard. I am hoping that you like my voice enough to link me and if you do I will certainly return the favor. Comments are good too! Thanks!

The Left wants to continue believing there were no links between Saddam and the September 11 attacks. After all, it gives them the groundwork to continue attacking our Commander-in-Chief. Their negativity, though, is beginning to defy evidence as revelations break that Hussein has been proven linked to 9/11 mastermind Mohammed Atta.

Some of the hostages in the 1979 Tehran embassy are claiming that the new Iran leader-elect was one of their captors! Speaking of the war on terror, what about that 9/11-Iraq connection?

President Bush has a great reputation for “sticking to his guns” on key issues – a quality that’s grudgingly attributed even by those who disagree with his policies. Some political minds are beginning to wonder if his low approval ratings might have to do with his selection of sticking points.

Glenn Reynolds got it right this time.