Or is she neither? Ethics question of the day: Is it right to do something you know is wrong, perhaps even illegal, for the sake of a greater good? Mary McCarthy at the CIA leaks highly classified information on a sensitive topic that compromises both the United States and some key allies. She clearly broke the law. It will make future espionage deals with foreign capitals more difficult. It has serious consequences. She certainly had political motives. All that has been well-observed and roundly...

And wouldn’t you know it, the issue is one of the smallest we’ve ever seen…sort of. More here.

And is it a good thing that prices are going up? More here.

Trapped methane gases under the ocean threaten to rapidly speed up global warming if they’re released. But by how much and how quickly? Amba has the answers.

And they’re actually sounding a lot like Democrats.

Find out who here.

Upon reading the following story late last night, I had just one question. However, I feared people would think I was being insensitive to the victims. Well, I’ve gotten over it, so here’s the question: “Who in their right mind would let a random stranger into their house to do a free breast exam?” From the Miami Herald: On Wednesday, Broward sheriff’s deputies arrested Winikoff on charges of sexual battery and simple assault. Winikoff allegedly fondled the breasts...

That’s the question I think most Americans are asking themselves these days. My answer is here.

A great new article in New York magazine shouts from the rooftops what we’ve been talking about for a while now. “We’re moderate as hell, and we’re not gonna be silent anymore!” Republicans used to brag that theirs was the party of fresh thinking, but who’s brain-dead now? All the big new ideas they have trotted out lately—privatizing Social Security, occupying a big country with only 160,000 troops, Middle Eastern democracy as a force-fed contagion—have...

Well, then you better think about creating campaign ads like this.

Iraq’s Prime Minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, could be stepping down. More from the NY Times: While some leaders said that Mr. Jaafari’s move could lead to an end to the political impasse, expressions of optimism by the same officials in the past four months have proven to be premature, and many details remain to be worked out concerning other posts. But the fight over the choice of a new prime minister has been the biggest stumbling block. Despite strong opposition from Sunnis, Kurds...

“The religious community has to decide whether they want to be tax exempt or involved in politics.” - DNC Chairman Howard Dean

Alan Stewart Carl asks several, compelling open-ended questions about the war, etc. Do you have the answers?

The NY Time reporters who broke the warrantless wiretapping story have won the Pulitzer Prize. And yet, some on the right are still calling for them to be imprisoned. So, in this new post 9/11 world, what does it mean to be courageous and what does it mean to be treasonous? I share my thoughts here.

No surprise here, but new poll numbers show even more dislike and distrust for the President and his policies. This time, however, the focus is less on the man himself, and more on those who support him in the halls of government. Yes, the ABB syndrome has mutated into something much more politically deadly…ABTWSB or Anybody But Those Who Support Bush. More here.

If so, then stop reading and go get yourself some ice cream. Life is good. But if not, read about some solutions here.

There are actually quite a few, and that’s why the co-founder of Greenpeace has recently come out in favor on pursuing a broader, more aggressive nuclear energy policy. More here.

In 1999, the government began secretly reclassifying documents that were previously made public by the Clinton administration. One such document is the 1958 Department of Defense Emergency Plans Book. Washington Wire describes it as “an early Cold War description of response planning for a nuclear attack on the U.Sâ€?. However, you want to know the truly ironic part? You can buy it on Amazon under the title The Doomsday Scenario. Well, Bob Aman has decided to read this “classified”...

Michael Reynolds has a modest proposal… The population of Iran is about 68 million. (Only a third of which are certifiably insane.) Their per capita GDP is listed as $7,700. Their oil minister recently boasted that this figure would rise to 10 g’s a head. Let’s pretend he’s an honest politician, and that’s the truth. 68 million people, 10 grand a head, that comes to about 680 billion bucks per year in nice round numbers. The gross municipal product of New York City...

Personally, I think he may be. Supported the war vigorously, is open to school vouchers, but still believes in many liberal ideals. These are the new independents, Dems and Repubs who are tired of the toeing the party line just for the sake of toeing the party line. amba shares her thoughts.

Given our dangerous dance with Iran, we could be in for a serious jolt at the gas pump soon. So who will be ready and who will be left in the lurch? More here.

Some religious folk want to say whatever they please regarding people’s sexuality. I agree they can say their piece, but is that speech without consequences? I don’t think so. More here.

Well, no…it’s not. But if you want to lead a healthier life, an active sex life apparently brings you more good than harm. More here.

I’ve been in the advertising and marketing world for a while now, and with that comes a fair amount of exposure to the production side of the business. What that means, for the purposes of this post, is that I’ve written and produced a fair amount of radio and television commercials. Now, when I’m editing a radio or television spot, I really get into it and make sure every moment is just the way I want it. This can border on the obsessive, but that’s just how it goes. And...

Alan Stewart Carl has this observation: And I think average Americans will respond positively to crowds waving the American flag. Hopefully the demonstrators will continue to show their desire to be here with such patriotic fervor. If the reaction of average Americans is positive enough, our leaders will feel much more obliged to keep our compassion intact as they craft new immigration laws. More here.