Once again 'good' news from Iraq: "Iraqi Cabinet ministers allied to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr threatened Wednesday to quit the government to protest the prime minister's lack of support for a timetable for U.S. withdrawal." If the Sadrists pull out, Iraq's (al-Maliki's) government is in very real danger of collapsing. On the other hand, it is not exactly the first … [Read more...] about Sadrists Threaten to Leave Government
Producer Fired For Lifting Couric Notebook Item From W. S. Journal
One-time NBC morning news megastar Katie Couric's troubled tenure at CBS News has just gotten more troubled with the supremely embarrassing story that a "notebook item" touted as her personal remembrance was in fact cribbed from a Wall Street Journal piece -- and the producer responsible for it has been fired. News anchors have an extremely difficult job because not only do … [Read more...] about Producer Fired For Lifting Couric Notebook Item From W. S. Journal
Read What Iraqi And Afghani Bloggers Have To Say
Visit the Carnival of the Liberated. … [Read more...] about Read What Iraqi And Afghani Bloggers Have To Say
Review: Neil Young’s Live At Massey Hall
Once in a while an album comes along by a favorite musician that is like listening to him for the first time all over again. One such album is Neil Young’s new Live at Massey Hall (Reprise/Wea), a captivating collection of 17 songs recorded by the great singer-songwriter at a solo concert in January 1971 but never before released. "I'm gonna sing mostly new songs … [Read more...] about Review: Neil Young’s Live At Massey Hall
Tom Daschle Rides Again
He's baaaaaaaaaaack...and it's good news for Rush Limbaugh (Rush will get lots of material out of it) and bad news for Senator Hillary Clinton (because this guy will help get her chief opponent lots of financial material). Former Majority Leader Tom Daschle is back in the political saddle again...in a vital behind the scenes role, Newsweek's Howard Fineman … [Read more...] about Tom Daschle Rides Again
Guest Poet: Sporing Time For Neocons
And now another gem from TMV's favorite artist of verse, Michael Silverstein, aka Wall Street Poet: Sporing Time For Neocons They'll soon be gone, the Neocons That gave Bushboy advice Their power to more damage do With them will go how nice. Some will on K Street find a home Their Bush work there is blessed Some will on academe descend A cozy tenured nest. But … [Read more...] about Guest Poet: Sporing Time For Neocons
Imus In The Hood
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Imus In The Hood
The Originalist Conundrum
Over the past few years, the Equal Rights Amendment has been kept alive mostly through the efforts of a relatively left-wing band of scholars and activists. It is their work that has laid the foundations for the contemporary meaning and understanding of the ERA we may now pass. Now that it's back on the table, this will present quite a dilemma for the mostly-conservative judges … [Read more...] about The Originalist Conundrum
Poll: Americans Want Gonzales Gone & Bush Aides To Testify
A new poll has more bad news for the Bush administration -- and a continued warning for Democrats:U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should resign, most Americans say, and White House aides should be forced to testify before Congress about their involvement in the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys. In a new Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll, conducted April 5 to 9, 53 … [Read more...] about Poll: Americans Want Gonzales Gone & Bush Aides To Testify
It’s All A Conspiratorial Lie
I'm the kid's real father. … [Read more...] about It’s All A Conspiratorial Lie
Statue Of Limitations
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri … [Read more...] about Statue Of Limitations
British Disgrace Becomes Fiasco
UPDATED below: Iran plans book, CD on Britons’ detention Another great take on the hostage drama, this time by Toby Harnden, blogging for the Telegraph. It took just two blubbering sailors spilling their guts before the Government realised its nifty PR strategy to hide the ignominy of what happened to the Tehran 15 had backfired badly. Now the original ban on getting … [Read more...] about British Disgrace Becomes Fiasco
An Excuse for War: Neocons & the Iranian Hostage Crisis
As Reaction co-blogger Libby mentioned yesterday, neocon leader Bill Kristol has argued that Iran should have been threatened with war over its capture of 15 British sailors and marines. Although he talks about avoiding war -- the only way to avoid war is to be tough, he suggests -- what he actually supports is a policy of threat-based engagement with Iran that could, and … [Read more...] about An Excuse for War: Neocons & the Iranian Hostage Crisis
Canada’s Bloodiest Day
Yesterday marked the 90th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. On April 9, 1917, Canadian forces launched a ground attack on German positions at Vimy Ridge. Where the British and French had previously failed, the Canadians succeeded. They secured the ridge in just four days. Casualties were enormously high. On the Canadian side, about 3,600 were killed, … [Read more...] about Canada’s Bloodiest Day
Imus Suspension Controversy & Soul-Searching Continues
The furor over Don Imus' widely condemned remarks that resulted in a national political firestorm and his suspension for two weeks from MSNBC and CBS radio is far from over. The soul-searching continues to go on with one critic in effect asking: "Is there something a bit sanctimonious with this picture?" In a Washington Post column titled "Slap! Bad Imus! Ok, Now Everybody … [Read more...] about Imus Suspension Controversy & Soul-Searching Continues
New Poll: Giuliani & Clinton in the Lead, McCain in Trouble
James Joyner has the results up the latest Gallup Poll: good news for Giuliani and Clinton, bad news for John McCain. The April 2-5 Gallup Poll finds 38% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents favoring Giuliani for the 2008 nomination, well ahead of his closest pursuer, McCain (16%). Two unannounced but potential candidates — Gingrich and Thompson — tie for … [Read more...] about New Poll: Giuliani & Clinton in the Lead, McCain in Trouble
Iraqis Protest Against U.S. Presence: White House – It’s Progress!
There are two ways to interprete this: Tens of thousands of protesters loyal to Moktada al-Sadr, the Shiite cleric, took to the streets of the holy city of Najaf on Monday in an extraordinarily disciplined rally to demand an end to the American military presence in Iraq, burning American flags and chanting “Death to America!â€? The first interpretation is the most obvious … [Read more...] about Iraqis Protest Against U.S. Presence: White House – It’s Progress!
Recess Graffiti
RJ Matson, Roll Call … [Read more...] about Recess Graffiti
“The McCain Tragedy”
One of my favorite left-of-center columnists, E.J. Dionne Jr., wrote a great column about John McCain, entitled "The McCain Tragedy". John McCain's 2000 campaign for president failed, but it was an unruly and joyous romp. His campaign this time feels quite different: carefully planned, meticulously calculated -- and a tragedy... McCain's political trajectory over the past … [Read more...] about “The McCain Tragedy”
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. In an extended essay at Q&O, McQ clarifies capitalism vs. consumerism, and defends the former from a seemingly well-meaning but possibly ill-informed detractor. In one of those rare moments of peace, when you can let your mind wonder freely, have you ever asked yourself, … [Read more...] about Center of Attention