These women are 9/11 widows. They're not afraid of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who says he wants to lay wreath at Ground Zero when he comes to New York to address the U.N., even though it was Iran that attacked the U.S. on 9/11. So why are so many Americans freaked out by the possibility that some good may actually come of such a gesture? Why are you so freaked … [Read more...] about Why Are You So Freaked Out?
Jena 6
Bob Englehart, The Hartford Courant … [Read more...] about Jena 6
GOP: Boy Do They Not Got Rhythm
If you are a black, it wouldn’t take a stretch of imagination to think that the Republican presidential candidates would like nothing more than to ship you off to Jena, Louisiana. If you are a Hispanic, it wouldn’t take a stretch of imagination to think that the Republican presidential candidates would like nothing more than to ship you off to Mexico or wherever the heck … [Read more...] about GOP: Boy Do They Not Got Rhythm
The Economics of Baghdad’s Sectarian Cleansing
Megan Greenwell writes in today's Washington Post of the financial consequences of sectarian cleansing in Baghdad. If you think housing prices have suffered in the US with the sub-prime mortgage collapse, just think about what's happening to those fleeing mixed neighborhoods in Baghdad. As Greenwell summarizes: With hundreds of thousands of Baghdad residents having fled … [Read more...] about The Economics of Baghdad’s Sectarian Cleansing
The U.S. Bites Itself in the Ass Again
The intrinsic half-assedness of virtually everything associated with the planning and execution of the Iraq war is on full display in the raging controversy over Blackwater USA. Let me hasten to say that the military, despite sometimes crossed and changing signals from the White House and Pentagon, has comported itself with the utmost professionalism. But the latest … [Read more...] about The U.S. Bites Itself in the Ass Again
Iran’s President And 9/11’s Ground Zero: Bomb Site Is No Disneyland
Was this deja vu all over again? Not quite. But there did seem to be some whispers from the past.... On Sept. 19, 1959, at the height of the Cold War, then Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev was barred from visiting Disneyland, leading him to explode in a verbal rage. Pundits (and comics) had a field day. So the second most powerful man in the world was mad because he … [Read more...] about Iran’s President And 9/11’s Ground Zero: Bomb Site Is No Disneyland
American Gothic 2007
Mike Lester, The Rome News-Tribune … [Read more...] about American Gothic 2007
He Tried To Get Down The Chimney
But he can't be confused with Santa Claus (and his girlfriend cannot be confused with Mrs. Claus...) … [Read more...] about He Tried To Get Down The Chimney
San Diego’s Mayor Does A Reversal
Our mayor here in San Diego has changed his stand on gay marriage upon deep personal reflection. … [Read more...] about San Diego’s Mayor Does A Reversal
Harris Poll: Thompson Pulls Ahead Of Giuliani
A new Harris poll suggests two trends (if these are indeed echoed in other polls): former Senator and actor Fred Thompson has now pulled ahead of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (showing a still fluid GOP race) and Senator Hillary Clinton continues to be ahead among Democratic voters (perhaps showing a consolidation of her status): After officially declaring his candidacy, U.S. … [Read more...] about Harris Poll: Thompson Pulls Ahead Of Giuliani
Just GUESS What’s Selling On EBay?
This truly is the end... … [Read more...] about Just GUESS What’s Selling On EBay?
Fact-Checking “General Betray Us”
The Washington Post's Ad Watch Fact-Checker evaluates the claims made by MoveOn.org in its recent NY Times ad and concludes : The Pinocchio Test The data provided by Gen. Petraeus on sharply declining Iraqi casualty rates is certainly open to analysis, debate, and challenge. We plan to take a closer look at them in a future post. However, MoveOn.org does not provide … [Read more...] about Fact-Checking “General Betray Us”
The Myth of Moroccan Democracy
Shadi Hamid and I have a piece out at The American Prospect today on the recent Moroccan elections and, more broadly, about American democracy-promotion. We note that while Morocco's King Mohammed VI has been held up as an example of an "enlightened monarch" leading his country towards economic and political progress, the reality on the ground is much different. Here's a … [Read more...] about The Myth of Moroccan Democracy
Results of Cheating
The New York Times: Landis’s Positive Doping Test Upheld Floyd Landis, the winner of the 2006 Tour de France, must forfeit his title and is subject to a two-year ban. … [Read more...] about Results of Cheating
The Three Schools of Originalism
A brief primer. Originalism is not a unitary category -- there at least three separate originalist approaches, which obviously sometimes overlap but sometimes differ from each other rather drastically. Folks who talk about originalism, pro or con, need to know about these differences. And adherents to "originalism", especially, need to clarify which of the three schools they … [Read more...] about The Three Schools of Originalism
Victims all around. Thanks Mr. Walters!
This is the victim of the the so-called Jena 6, Justin Barker. It is plainly obvious that he was beat up. No dispute. He is the primary victim. I use the word primary because the so-called Jena 6 are the secondary victims. I have a problem with various individuals, including the La Salle parish district attorney Reed Walters, saying "remember who is the victim" without … [Read more...] about Victims all around. Thanks Mr. Walters!
DC Vote Rejected Again
RJ Matson, Roll Call … [Read more...] about DC Vote Rejected Again
Trouble In Law And Orderland: James Dobson Passes On Fred Thompson
Former actor Fred Thompson's campaign for the GOP Presidential nomination has either just been dealt a setback -- or given a boost in its credibility, depending on a person's political bias. James Dobson, head of the Focus on the Family Ministry, and one of The Deciders of who gets chunks of GOP votes, has said no thanks to Fred Thompson's candidacy: In a private … [Read more...] about Trouble In Law And Orderland: James Dobson Passes On Fred Thompson
Center of Attention
A round up of recent posts by various bloggers 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. -------------------------- NOTE: It was difficult to find balanced posts on distinctive topics today; most seemed to … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
New Bin Laden Video Declares War On Pakistan
Osama bin Laden has a released a new video and this time there truly is something new: The terrorist chief is signaling that Al-Qaeda going to pull out all stops now to try and topple the Pakistani government -- a government that is fragile by any measurement since it walks a political tightrope in trying to cooperate with the United States on the war on terror and trying to … [Read more...] about New Bin Laden Video Declares War On Pakistan