VOTERS sent Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal into the run-off for the French presidency yesterday, confounding the hopes of their centrist and far-Right challengers in the most closely contested campaign for decades, says The Australian. "Mr Sarkozy, 52, who is promising radical reform to haul France out of stagnation, led with 31.11 per cent of the votes and Ms Royal, 53, … [Read more...] about France: Race to Presidency Begins!
Real Life Simpsons’ Intro
What happens when real life TRULY imitates art? THIS: … [Read more...] about Real Life Simpsons’ Intro
A Mini Controversy Swirls Around John Edwards
Is the New York Time's Maureen Dowd to blame -- or is it John Edwards? Here's one view. … [Read more...] about A Mini Controversy Swirls Around John Edwards
Take A Peek….
...at a great new site Scholars and Rogues. It notes:"S&R isn’t a current news blog, exactly. There are some fantastic sites out there where you can get quick, first-on-the-scene takes, and if you explore the blogroll you’ll see what we mean. We’re more like the editorial desk. We see our mission as comment, analysis, informed opinion, deep insight. We try to figure … [Read more...] about Take A Peek….
Gonzales’ Incompetence
Mike Wolverton, Cagle Cartoons … [Read more...] about Gonzales’ Incompetence
Iraq PM Says: “We Don’t Want Baghdad Wall”
A file photo from this site... How long would the US administration be able to present a facade to the world that the Iraqi affairs are being run by the democratically-elected government? The "democratically-elected" members of the Iraqi government have many a times indicated that the present mess in Iraq is largely owing to the continued presence of the US troops and … [Read more...] about Iraq PM Says: “We Don’t Want Baghdad Wall”
Virginia Tech Student Government Asks The Media To Please Leave
Anyone can overstay their welcome -- particularly a swarming news media during a major, history-making, terrible event. And so it goes at Virginia Tech too:You've seen the news coverage from Blacksburg, complete with prominent network anchors reporting from the scene. And now, the student government at Virginia Tech is asking for all of that to end. It's calling on hundreds … [Read more...] about Virginia Tech Student Government Asks The Media To Please Leave
“If You Can’t Be Free, Be a Mystery”
The Black Conservatism of Clarence Thomas. Liberals don't get him. Conservatives don't get him either (though they're more likely to think they do). That's because most White folks don't know the history of Black Conservatism (a very distinct tradition from what is today called "conservatism"), and its characteristic pessimism on race relations. Thomas has unfortunately … [Read more...] about “If You Can’t Be Free, Be a Mystery”
Gingrich Says The Real Cause Of Virginia Tech Massacre Was Liberalism
Those who are not wedded to demonizing "the other side" at all costs KNEW this would happen. We just had to figure out who it would come from. Jerry Falwell? Pat Robertson? Rush Limbaugh? Well, no, it came from former House Speaker and apparent GOP Presidential wannabe Newt Gingrich. Do you know what the REAL cause of the Virginia Tech Massacre was? It was liberalism .... … [Read more...] about Gingrich Says The Real Cause Of Virginia Tech Massacre Was Liberalism
The 2007 French Presidential Election
Earlier today at The Reaction, well before polls opened, I offered some analysis of today's presidential election in France. You can find that post here. For more on the leading candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy, see here. For more on the two other top candidates, Ségolène Royal and François Bayrou, see here and here. ********** Here's the latest from the … [Read more...] about The 2007 French Presidential Election
India Tests BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia was successfully tested from a range at Chandipur (India) today, paving the way for its induction into the Indian army, reports The Hindu. "Defence scientists are working on a miniaturised version of BrahMos to be launched from the Sukhoi-30 combat jets. The sea-launched version of BrahMos has been … [Read more...] about India Tests BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile
Pope Gets Gift of 30,002 Shoes!
Why did someone give Pope Benedict 30,002 shoes? "Pope Benedict last year made headlines in the fashion media after reports that some of his shoes were designed and donated by top Italian fashion houses such as Prada but the Vatican has never confirmed this. "The Pope's footwear, usually red or burgundy, is called the 'shoes of the fisherman' since popes are the … [Read more...] about Pope Gets Gift of 30,002 Shoes!
The Unintended Consequences of Term Limits
I’ve never been a big fan of term limits. After all, isn’t that what elections are all about. Now this article in the Washington Post today: Jo Ann Davidson remembers feeling optimistic that term limits would land more women in Ohio's legislature, where 32 of the 132 seats were held by women in the mid-1990s. Yet in the seven years since the law took effect, the … [Read more...] about The Unintended Consequences of Term Limits
Giuliani’s Immigration Plan: Good, Realistic and Humane
Interesting: where Giuliani, as mayor of New York, championed the cause of legal immigrants and often defended illegal immigrants, ‘he now talks of penalties for people […] illegally [in the US] and requirements for them to wait at the back of the line. And while he once pushed policies like providing schooling for the children of illegal immigrants by saying, “The … [Read more...] about Giuliani’s Immigration Plan: Good, Realistic and Humane
Israel Says: ‘No Thank you, General Musharraf!’
It seems General Musharraf, President of Pakistan, has all the time in the world to mediate in the Israel-Palestine crisis...While his own country is in the throes of a bigger crisis. Some gallantry, social service and sacrifice this!!! Maybe Israel should ask the General to take leave without pay and come over to Israel, as an adviser, after he has handed over the power to … [Read more...] about Israel Says: ‘No Thank you, General Musharraf!’
Don’t Tease the Crocodiles
Missing child found in shot croc - CNN.comThe child, surnamed Liu, disappeared Friday after Liu and three other children climbed over the fence around a pool in the park that had been used to stage crocodile shows, Xinhua said. "The children shot the animals with catapults and beat them with wooden sticks," the agency said. "One of the irritated crocodiles bit Liu's clothes … [Read more...] about Don’t Tease the Crocodiles
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Jeff Jarvis writes that the criticism of NBC's decision to show excerpts of the Cho videos is misguided. They shouldn't be criticized for showing them, they should be criticized for sanitizing them. Money quote from the opening sentence of his post: "It is not … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Bush: I’m Telling You Fo(u)r Years Already – We’re Making Progress
I have to admit that I get a bit tired of US President George W. Bush claiming that the situation in Iraq is improving. President Bush yesterday said his strategy to send more troops to Iraq is turning the tide in favor of U.S. and Iraqi forces and rebutted claims by a top Democrat that the war is lost. "The direction of the fight is beginning to shift," Mr. Bush said in a … [Read more...] about Bush: I’m Telling You Fo(u)r Years Already – We’re Making Progress
Tommy Thompson Believes in What He’s Doing
George Will wrote an interesting column about Republican candidate Tommy Thompson. He highlights Thompson's resumé and describes Thompson's 'plan of attack'. In short: no Republican candidate is going to win Ohio. Instead, the Republican nominee should focus on carrying Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. So, Republican voters should consider who, of all the Republican candidates, … [Read more...] about Tommy Thompson Believes in What He’s Doing
The Dutch Way or the Highway
Reuters has an interesting article up about a Belgian auto parts supplier who has forbidden his employees to speak another language than Dutch while at work. If they ignore the rule, they can be fired. "We have people from Italy, India, Poland, Algeria here. It's to avoid cliques forming here and there," said Geert Vermote, human resources manager of HP Pelzer in the town of … [Read more...] about The Dutch Way or the Highway