The conventional wisdom has spoken: New York Senator Hillary Clinton is now a grazed candidate....not quite wounded...not reeling on the ropes. But, in the last debate, the armor of her perfectly-run campaign was pierced by the razor-edged issue of illegal aliens getting driver's licenses. And when that opening emerged, the swords dug deeper with several stories saying the … [Read more...] about Showdown At Las Vegas Debate For Hillary Clinton
The world of LARPing
(Sign of the Apolcalypse #52 at The Reaction.) We all have our fantasies, even our fantasy worlds, worlds that allow us to be true to ourselves, for good or bad, or neither. Put another way, we all have dreams, dreams about ourselves, ideal images of ourselves, self-constructs. Society requires one to be many things, to wear many masks, to play many roles, some fulfilling, … [Read more...] about The world of LARPing
Why Deterrence Isn’t Enough
A few days ago, I posted a clip from a widely-watched TV debate about Iran policy between Norman Podhoretz and Fareed Zakaria. Podhoretz, as per usual, called for more hawkish action; Zakaria, in contrast, argued that, if negotiations don't succeed, a strategy of deterrence is the obvious solution. I often agree with Zakaria on Middle Eastern policy issues because he's a … [Read more...] about Why Deterrence Isn’t Enough
OJ Trialaholics
Yaakov Kirschen, The Jerusalem Post, Dry Bones … [Read more...] about OJ Trialaholics
General Musharraf’s Moment of Truth Arrives
President General Pervez Musharraf's (or for that matter Pakistan's) D-Day has arrived. November 15 marks the end of the current Parliament's five-year term. Also, Musharraf's concurrent presidential mandate also expires Thursday, though he has extended it by calling the state of emergency that has cast Pakistan into a deep political crisis, reports Paul Haven, Associated Press … [Read more...] about General Musharraf’s Moment of Truth Arrives
Pakistan & Another Iraq War Disaster
When Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency on November 3, he said it was to deal with terrorists. But nearly two weeks later he not only has not dealt with the Taliban and Al Qaeda, he has allowed the Taliban to push closer to Islamabad as they take over one district after another in yet another tragic consequence of the Bush administration starving … [Read more...] about Pakistan & Another Iraq War Disaster
Our Hometown: Night of 100 Cats, and Belle Gunness
Maybe you grew up in a small town like I did; my village was population 600 souls. Maybe in your hometown, like mine, truth is sometimes definitely stranger than even NON-fiction. Story Number One This week in the hometown, everyone is talking about Hundred Cat Lady. This poor soul, an 'old before her time' 59 year old woman out in the Township, was found to have 85 cats, … [Read more...] about Our Hometown: Night of 100 Cats, and Belle Gunness
The Image Factor
There are many fine qualities to be spoken of all the major contenders for the Presidency. But only Barack Obama, sheerly via who he is, can single-handedly alter the global perception of America for the better. … [Read more...] about The Image Factor
Ms Brown ‘Massages’ Google: Hits a Jackpot…
There are many success stories relating to Google’s newly minted millionaires, who are generally software gurus and sales whizzes. Now all assortment of people are becoming millionaires. Ms Bonnie Brown's -- a masseuse's -- success story is worth a read... "Ms Brown was not in a position to haggle. She was recently divorced and living with her sister, so when a small … [Read more...] about Ms Brown ‘Massages’ Google: Hits a Jackpot…
In Iowa, 50 Days to Go for the Top Dems
Chris Cillizza's The Fix: Fifty days out from Iowa, Clinton must still be considered the frontrunner in the race, but she is increasingly vulnerable to attacks from her rivals. Clinton's vulnerability (real or imagined) comes just as Obama seems to have found his voice. Dismissing Edwards is a mistake, if only for his willingness to directly attack Clinton (a move that could … [Read more...] about In Iowa, 50 Days to Go for the Top Dems
O.J. Simpson’s Honeymoon in Vegas
Perhaps no one knows when O.J. Simpson hit bottom -- probably not even The Juice himself -- but it probably occurred sometime in the run-up to the 1994 murders of his former wife and her friend during a cocaine-fueled binge or a fit of jealousy. In any event, it is sadly obvious that the former football star, advertising pitchman and not-bad Hollywood actor, whose good looks … [Read more...] about O.J. Simpson’s Honeymoon in Vegas
Qualifiers
Why the "mis-match" argument against affirmative action doesn't hold together (and why, for the sake of my own law school applications, I'm very glad it doesn't!). … [Read more...] about Qualifiers
How to Make a War Disappear
Iraq is fading from the minds of the American public, and politicians, pollsters and pundits are trying to figure out how it happened. Although 2007 casualties have been the highest in five years of war, a combination of Congressional Democrats' ineffectual efforts to stop or slow it down along with Republican unwillingness to buck Bush in numbers large enough to override … [Read more...] about How to Make a War Disappear
Center of Attention
A weekly round up of recent commentary by assorted voices who either attempt to strike a balanced note on heated debates and controversial issues, or improve our ability to find our own sense of balance by exposing us to new information and different points-of-view. -------------------------- Writing at Balloon Juice, Michael D. offers an immigration proposal. While that … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
TARGET: THANKSGIVING!
You can see the headline at Fox News, can't you? Martial theme music, elaborate graphic, perhaps a mushroom cloud emerging from an about-to-be-carved turkey, an all-American family looking on in horror, white to the core, manifest destiny come undone, exposed at last, the pioneers of American imperialism obliterated by the revisionist blamers. Wait... what? Yes, there is … [Read more...] about TARGET: THANKSGIVING!
Germans in Iraq
Germany has admirably avoided involvement in the losing quagmire that is the Iraq War and Occupation, but there are German forces in Iraq nonetheless, mercenary forces, the German equivalents of Blackwater and its soldiers of fortune. Der Spiegel has the story of "an agency which sends Germans to crisis zones around the world, especially Iraq, where they work as highly-paid … [Read more...] about Germans in Iraq
Chris Dodd
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Chris Dodd
Ban On Plastic Bags: London Joins National Campaign
All 33 authorities in the London Councils group voted for legislation to prevent shops in the capital handing out free plastic bags, reports The Independent. "In the next fortnight Westminster Council will present a private Bill to the House of Commons which would apply to every London shop from the humblest newsagent to Harrods." "Shoppers clutching large numbers of bags in … [Read more...] about Ban On Plastic Bags: London Joins National Campaign
The Latest Iran Buzz
Matt Dupuis describes the latest developments in the Iranian nuclear standoff. … [Read more...] about The Latest Iran Buzz
Warrantless Wiretaps Probe To Be Reopened By Justice Department
A major reversal is about to take place in the Bush administration. The seemingly sandbagged-from-within investigation into the controversial warrant-less wiretaps program is about to start up again: The Bush administration has apparently changed policy and cleared the way for the Justice Department to restart an investigation into the government's no-warrant electronic … [Read more...] about Warrantless Wiretaps Probe To Be Reopened By Justice Department