An interesting article at the Washington Post about Ron Paul: "Two days was not enough," Jared Chicoine says, standing in the lobby of a Holiday Inn Express on the eve of Tuesday's third Republican presidential debate. Unshaven and dressed in a blue Ralph Lauren oxford shirt and khakis, Chicoine could easily pass for a hung-over fraternity brother. Instead, the 25-year-old … [Read more...] about Ron Paul: At Your Service
Man Tries To Jump In Popemobile Jeep
There has now been a second attempt to get at a Pope, according to CBS/AP:A man tried to jump into Pope Benedict XVI's uncovered popemobile as the pontiff began his general audience Wednesday and held onto it for a few seconds before being wrestled to the ground by security officers. The Pope was not hurt in any way and continued to hold the audience as if nothing happened, … [Read more...] about Man Tries To Jump In Popemobile Jeep
Environmental President
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Environmental President
The Republican Debate – Some Notes
Dr. e already published quite some posts about the Republican debate yesterday evening, so I decided to post my thoughts on the debate at my own blog. You can read that post here. On the immigration bill, both Romney and Giuliani made, it has to be said, some good points. Giuliani explained what’s missing from the bill, what should have been in the bill; Romney explained … [Read more...] about The Republican Debate – Some Notes
Another War, Another PTSD Epidemic
Nick was never the same after Vietnam. He would lapse into deep depressions. He let his teeth go, chain smoked cigarettes and pot and drank way too much booze, fought with his wife and would leave home for days at a time after suffering nightmares about the people that he had killed and seen killed. I was one of the very few people who knew about Nick's Vietnam experience. … [Read more...] about Another War, Another PTSD Epidemic
Catholics Across America Are Laughing, Perhaps For Different Reasons: Rudy Giuliani, Republican Debate
Before he even said it, we knew, those of us who are Conception Catholics, those of us who were taught by the nuns and priests and brothers... we knew exactly what Rudy Giuliani was thinking before he ever said it aloud. During tonight's Republican debate, as Mr. Giuliani was answering a query about where he stood regarding Bishop So-and-So's criticism last week about … [Read more...] about Catholics Across America Are Laughing, Perhaps For Different Reasons: Rudy Giuliani, Republican Debate
There’s A Hole In The Bed Where Fred Thompson Is Yet to Lie
Some people from the Right think the Republicans are missing "the tall man": Fred Thompson It may be so that he would loom over the other candidates, making debates look like a production of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. If Hillary and a couple other candidates stood on boxes so all the Democratic candidates would seem more or less the same height on the dais, then … [Read more...] about There’s A Hole In The Bed Where Fred Thompson Is Yet to Lie
The G-8 Summit may trigger strategic changes
A strategic shift in the balances that are currently keeping the peace between Russia and the West may be triggered at the G8 Summit in Germany from June 6-8, 2007. At first glance, the Summit looks innocent enough with German Chancellor Angela Merkel seeking attention for climate change and more equity in global economic relations between rich and poor countries. She is … [Read more...] about The G-8 Summit may trigger strategic changes
Tancredo Says: STOP ALL LEGAL Immigration (His Fellow Candidates Vehemently Disagree)
During tonight's Republican debate, Congressman Tom Tancredo (R) Colorado, said definitively: We "... must STOP all LEGAL immigration..." Tancredo said that only "family members and refugees" should be allowed into the USA for as long a time as it takes, to close off all legal immigration, until 'we don't have to press for English...' [being the exclusive language] Wolf … [Read more...] about Tancredo Says: STOP ALL LEGAL Immigration (His Fellow Candidates Vehemently Disagree)
Republican Debate Open Thread
I've been out for a few hours - I was speaking as the Jewish representative at a Gay Pride Week Interfaith Service. What did our Republican candidates have to say? Chris Cillizza at Washington Post's The Fix New York Times' The Caucus CNN's Political Ticker Some Comments from Blogtopia: John at AMERICAblog: The "gay stuff" from the GOP debate Joe and John at … [Read more...] about Republican Debate Open Thread
Sad Song for Karl Rove
Like Joni Mitchell with life and love, Karl Rove has seen voter fraud “from both sides now, from win and lose and still somehow,†it’s only the illusions he wants us to recall. As the U.S. Attorney scandals go on, the villainy du jour is now about “caging,†dirty tricks to exclude unfriendly voters as practiced by Rove’s assistant, Tim Griffin, appointed to … [Read more...] about Sad Song for Karl Rove
Prison Quads & Jeering Squads: Scooter Libby, Paris Hilton & Abu Ghraib
Scooter Libby faces 30 months in Gentlemen's Prison, and Paris Hilton is in Powder-Puff Prison... so it might be said. Prison today may mean nearly nothing for what I'd call ‘gold-collar crime.’ Yet, I’ve been wondering with an analyst’s eye, about all the hooting, clapping and applauding around Miss Hilton going to jail. This rousing currently sweeps much of TV … [Read more...] about Prison Quads & Jeering Squads: Scooter Libby, Paris Hilton & Abu Ghraib
Should Scooter Libby Be Pardoned?
Just asking. … [Read more...] about Should Scooter Libby Be Pardoned?
Excommunicating Bush
Greenwald: "The great fraud being perpetrated in our political discourse is the concerted attempt by movement conservatives, now that the Bush presidency lay irreversibly in ruins, to repudiate George Bush by claiming that he is not, and never has been, a 'real conservative.' This con game is being perpetrated by the very same conservatives who -- when his presidency looked to … [Read more...] about Excommunicating Bush
The Al-Hurra Controversy
Al-Hurra, the American-sponsored Arabic television network, has been embroiled in controversy in recent weeks. The controversy has gained center attention through the writings of Joel Mowbray in The Wall Street Journal who has lashed out at high-ranking members of the network's current leadership. He suggests that al-Hurra is so badly run that they've allowed active support for … [Read more...] about The Al-Hurra Controversy
Understanding Iranian Politics Is A Key Element of Smart Policy
Our policy towards Iran needs to be quite delicate. I've discussed the country's fragile political situation before and I've mentioned that there is currently a major power struggle between more moderate elements of the government and hard-liners. We need to carefully take note of these political developments because they must factor into our decisions about how to engage with … [Read more...] about Understanding Iranian Politics Is A Key Element of Smart Policy
Iraq Video Game
Too Beautiful for Politics
Libby Spencer argues that Jeri Thompson is, quite simply, too young and too beautiful for a First Lady. In a post yesterday, Libby called Jeri a "trophy wife." Strangely, people considered that to be some kind of insult. After all: it merely implies that Fred married her because she's young and beautiful, not because of her character or intelligence. What's insulting about … [Read more...] about Too Beautiful for Politics
Scooter’s Off to Prison, Or At Least to An Appeal
Washington Post: Libby Gets 30 Months in Prison, Is Fined $250KFormer White House aide to serve time in prison for lying and obstructing CIA leak investigation. … [Read more...] about Scooter’s Off to Prison, Or At Least to An Appeal
The End Of A Cease Fire In Spain
The Basque separatist ETA has called off the cease-fire it announced last year. Details here. … [Read more...] about The End Of A Cease Fire In Spain