If you're one of those who were outraged by Bush's commuting Scooter Libby's sentence, be forewarned that it's clear you will need to brace yourself for more outrage: The White House on Tuesday declined to rule out the possibility of an eventual pardon for former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. But spokesman Tony Snow said, for now, President Bush is … [Read more...] about Bush Won’t Rule Out Full Pardon Of Libby
Plant Ice & You’re Gonna Harvest Wind
In a delicious turn of events, the family of O.J. Simpson murder victim Ron Goldman has purchased the rights to the Juice’s cancelled book, "If I Did It," from a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee. The family has said it will rename the book “The Confessions of a Double Murderer†and shop it around. It also acquired the media and movie rights and Simpson’s name, … [Read more...] about Plant Ice & You’re Gonna Harvest Wind
Can Iraqization Work?
Carter Malkasian wrote a good article for the Democracy Journal about Iraqization. The idea behind Iraqization is, basically, that "an effective Iraqi security force" is created, which "can take the place of U.S. Marines and soldiers. Thereby, the United States can eventually withdraw without leaving behind a terrorist safe haven and fractured Iraq." The only problem with … [Read more...] about Can Iraqization Work?
Fireworks & A Horse’s Ass of a Law
When Benjamin Franklin famously remarked that the law is an ass, a reference to the donkey, he could not have imagined a future law in his adopted Pennsylvania that forbids fireworks sales to state residents but allows out-of-staters to buy the explosives by the truckload. A horse’s ass of a law, perhaps? This incongruity comes into sharp focus every Independence Day as … [Read more...] about Fireworks & A Horse’s Ass of a Law
Bogus or Real?– Former Murderous Islamicist and Recruiter?
Is this bogus? If we took Mr Butt's words to heart, would we be heartened by the words because they say something we'd love to hear? The voice of reason from a former big bad terrorist? Hmmm, Surely others have said these same things, things that sound like this: 'Start discussing literal passages about dealing death' re the Koran, within the Muslim community. Non-muslims, … [Read more...] about Bogus or Real?– Former Murderous Islamicist and Recruiter?
Center of Attention
A round up of recent posts by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Kevin Sullivan tackles "Terrorism and the Law Enforcement Fallacy." This one is a must read, IMHO, a forceful and persuasive reminder, for all of us. The Angry Independent offers his thoughts on Michael Moore's Sicko. While I (and two of his commenters) generally disagree with TAI's … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
It’s All About The…. Money?
Richard Cohen writes for the Washington Post: The eight Democratic presidential candidates assembled in Washington last week for another of their debates and talked, among other things, about public education. They all essentially agreed that it was underfunded -- one system "for the wealthy, one for everybody else," as John Edwards put it. Then they all got into cars and … [Read more...] about It’s All About The…. Money?
The Immorality of George Walker Bush
There is a birdbath tucked in between a Japanese maple and a spruce tree at our house and this time of year it is a rare evening that there isn’t a procession of fat robins who take turns splashing in the water and then flying up to the branches of a nearby plum tree to preen and shake themselves dry. I was standing at the door last night taking in this sweet little … [Read more...] about The Immorality of George Walker Bush
Muthaeffing Bootylicious Blah Goes Blat
Bush Libby Commute Solidifies Bush’s Status As Polarizer In Chief
Hasn't it come time to say it? In the history of the American republic, it's difficult to find a President who has proven to be as consistently polarizing and seemingly dismissive of the feelings of Americans who do not belong to his party -- or, specifically, to his own party's "base" -- as President George W. Bush. Bush's "surprise" -- or was it? -- decision to … [Read more...] about Bush Libby Commute Solidifies Bush’s Status As Polarizer In Chief
Clinton-Obama: Behind the Sound Bites and Bucks
Barack Obama won the fund-raising contest for the past quarter, but Hillary Clinton “won†the Democratic debate Thursday night and holds a big lead in the polls. In the coming months, we may be seeing a contest of “new politics†that isn’t quite what analysts have been predicting. Their demographic newness is obvious--first woman President, first of color--but … [Read more...] about Clinton-Obama: Behind the Sound Bites and Bucks
The Surge Has Just Begun
(Cross-posted at Foreign Policy Watch.)Or that's at least what some military officials are now saying. Dave Kilcullen, Senior Counterinsurgency Advisor to General Petraeus, had this to say recently: I know some people in the media are already starting to sort of write off the “surge†and say ‘Hey, hang on: we’ve been going since January, we haven’t seen a massive … [Read more...] about The Surge Has Just Begun
Orwellian Joe
Why do I even bother blogging about Joe Lieberman? Honestly, there's no good answer to that question. Perhaps the sheer extremism of his foolishness and inanity attracts my attention. And here's the latest, via Think Progress: Appearing on ABC's This Week, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) used the foiled terror attempts in London to call for greater domestic spying here in … [Read more...] about Orwellian Joe
Doctors and terrorists
Over at The Reaction, new co-blogger Carol Gee has a post up on the irony of doctors as terrorists. Read it here. … [Read more...] about Doctors and terrorists
(Updated) Pardon Me, But As Expected
A federal appeals court said today that Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, must go to prison while appealing his conviction for obstructing a CIA leak probe. The three-judge panel found that Libby ``has not shown that the appeal raises a substantial question'' under federal law that would merit letting him remain free. Steve Benen … [Read more...] about (Updated) Pardon Me, But As Expected
Blogs versus Print
Anthony Zanetti wrote a good article for Monsters and Critics about "the writing found on internet blogs versus established print publications," and - more importantly - the prejudices that exist. Anthony - who is one of the most gifted writers on the Internet - writes: Recently, there have been many articles about the writing found on internet blogs versus established print … [Read more...] about Blogs versus Print
Book Review of A Mormon in the White House?
A Mormon in the White House? 10 Things Every American Should Know About Mitt Romney is written by well-known conservative pundit Hugh Hewitt. Hewitt is one of the most vocal opinion-makers in American politics: a partisan Republican and a staunch conservative who does not hold back when dealing with liberals (especially Bill and Hillary Clinton of course). Besides that, he is … [Read more...] about Book Review of A Mormon in the White House?
An Al Qaeda Summer Break
Some, probably most, of us think that the Summer break is a great time to go on vacation to another city, place, or even another country, to see something of the world, to walk on paths you did not yet walk on, to enjoy life to the fullest. Others have different plans: A secret U.S. law enforcement report, prepared for the Department of Homeland Security, warns that al Qaeda … [Read more...] about An Al Qaeda Summer Break
Obama Uses Internet to Beat Clinton In Campaign Fundraising
If Barack Obama has been painting himself as a new generation of leader, he has now shown himself to be a new generation of Presidential candidate in an important way: He has beaten Senator Hillary Clinton in campaign contributions by tapping the Internet, and getting lots of smaller contributions from the Democratic party's rank and file: Democratic presidential … [Read more...] about Obama Uses Internet to Beat Clinton In Campaign Fundraising
Good News For Yaderlin Jimenez
The wife of Alex R. Jimenez, one of the two U.S. soldiers kidnapped and feared dead after an Al Qaeda-led ambush in May in the Triangle of Death, has been issued a green card and can stay in the U.S. indefinitely. Yaderlin Jimenez, like her husband, is a native of the Dominican Republican, but she entered the U.S. illegally prior to marrying him in 2004. She had been listed … [Read more...] about Good News For Yaderlin Jimenez