I don't think it's worth paying much attention to Condoleezza Rice's trip to Israel-Palestine. Why? Because Rice doesn't have a chance in hell of waging a solution to the conflict. The problem lies with the fact that the Bush administration has very little credibility amongst Palestinians. American officials have put relentless pressure on the Palestinian government to stop … [Read more...] about Will Rice Succeed?
Romancing Fred Thompson
Unsatisfied with McCain, Giuliani, and Romney -- although perhaps not Brownback -- Republicans are searching desperately for a suitably conservative candidate to run in '08. Enter: Fred Thompson of Law & Order, Die Hard 2, and The Hunt for Red October. The hardest of the hardcore love him. Consider what Powerline's Paul Mirengoff has to say about the former Watergate … [Read more...] about Romancing Fred Thompson
Liberals prevail in Quebec election
Here's the latest from the CBC: -- Liberal Party (48 seats; 33.08% of the vote) -- Action Démocratique du Québec (41 seats; 30.80% of the vote) -- Parti Québécois (36 seats; 28.32% of the vote) Premier Jean Charest's centrist and federalist Liberals thus win a second mandate, although they will govern in the minority in a closely divided National Assembly (the … [Read more...] about Liberals prevail in Quebec election
Is the Surge Working?
It just might: The US military has captured the leaders of a car-bombing ring blamed for killing hundreds of Iraqis. The news came as the departing US ambassador said Americans are in ongoing talks with insurgent representatives to try to persuade them to turn against al-Qaeda. Khalilzad said the talks have shifted from “unreasonable demandsâ€? by the groups for a US … [Read more...] about Is the Surge Working?
White House Spokesman Tony Snow’s Cancer Has Returned
Bad news for White House Press spokesman Tony Snow, news that transcends political battles:Presidential spokesman Tony Snow's surgery to remove a small growth showed that his cancer has returned, the White House said Tuesday. Snow, 51, had his colon removed in 2005 and underwent six months of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with colon cancer. A small growth was discovered … [Read more...] about White House Spokesman Tony Snow’s Cancer Has Returned
Dump Your Babies Here
The Times (London) has a quite shocking article up, describing that "desperate mothers are being urged to drop their unwanted babies through hatches at hospitals in an effort to halt a spate of infanticides that has shocked Germany." So far, at least 23 babies have been killed this year. Many of them "beaten to death or strangled by their mothers before being dumped on … [Read more...] about Dump Your Babies Here
Center of Attention
A round up of recent reporting and commentary by a few centrist, moderate, and independent bloggers. Jeff Jarvis is miffed about this instance of old media censoring new media. In the realm of religion, before tearing out after Neal Boortz on whether or not he is (as self-proclaimed) a Libertarian, Gun Toting Liberal spotlights some examples of extreme (ridiculous and … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Can Monica Take the Fifth?
Does Department of Justice White House liaison Monica Goodling have the right to invoke the Fifth Amendment against self incrimination in the U.S. attorney scandal. Absolutely. But has Goodling properly invoked the Fifth? Apparently not. This is because Goodling’s lawyer is claiming that she is ready, willing and able to tell the truth, but will take the Fifth not … [Read more...] about Can Monica Take the Fifth?
Political Surge: Poll Puts Thompson Number Three Among Republicans
You could say that a surge seems to be happening here in the United States as well....a political surge...in the GOP, where former Senator and TV actor Fred Thompson is coming on strong, according to USA Today's Gallup Guru:Our latest weekend USA Today/Gallup poll is full of interesting insights into American public opinion. Tops among them may be the changing landscape of the … [Read more...] about Political Surge: Poll Puts Thompson Number Three Among Republicans
Hicks Cops a Plea; Bush Cops a Victory
David Hicks sits with his lawyer at Guantánamo Bay Freedom loving people can applaud Australian David Hicks' guilty plea, the first time a Guantánamo Bay prisoner has admitted to supporting Al Qaeda since the flagship prison of the Rumsfeld Gulag opened more than five years ago. The plea to one charge of material support for terrorism is a victory for the Bush … [Read more...] about Hicks Cops a Plea; Bush Cops a Victory
This Just In!
THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Bush Offers U.S. Attorneys New Positions in Iraq Attempt to Calm Furor over Mass Sacking In a bold attempt to end the controversy over the sacking of eight United States attorneys, President George W. Bush today offered the fired prosecutors what he called “exciting new positionsâ€? in Iraq. With the President … [Read more...] about This Just In!
Shrinking President
Gonzales Aide Will Refuse To Testify On Prosecutor Firings
The big controversy raging around the firing of Republican prosecutors who many suspect were let go because they either didn't go after Democrats running for office fast enough or went after Republicans who were in office too quickly has just gotten even more controversial. In what can only be seen as a public relations debacle for the Bush administration, a top aide to … [Read more...] about Gonzales Aide Will Refuse To Testify On Prosecutor Firings
The Shaquanda Cotton Case
Southwest Bureau Chief for the Chicago Tribune, Howard Witt, just contacted me with an important update about the remarkably unjust, race-motivated sentencing of Shaquanda Cotton in Paris, TX. Just in case you haven't heard the backstory, I'll let Shaquanda tell you herself from the "About Me" section on her blog Free Shaquanda Cotton:I am a 14-year-old black freshman who … [Read more...] about The Shaquanda Cotton Case
Poll: Solid Majority Now Supports Congressional Troop Deadline
And now here's yet another milestone in the southwardly heading polls on the Iraq war: a new Pew Research Center poll finds a "solid majority" of Americans now favor a Congressional deadline to get troops out of Iraq. The net results of this poll are likely to be: A further emboldening of Democrats to continue to press the issue and repeatedly bring up a deadline for troop … [Read more...] about Poll: Solid Majority Now Supports Congressional Troop Deadline
Stay the Course
There has been some movement on a potential peace summit between Israel and Saudi Arabia. If it is going to work, it will only happen because all parties will agree to push through the inevitable attempts at sabotage. … [Read more...] about Stay the Course
George Bush: Isolated Now From Republicans?
Robert Novak reports that President George Bush is more isolated that ever -- increasingly estranged from members of his own party who find themselves in a bind because they don't want to break with Bush but need to put some distance between themselves and the White House:Two weeks earlier on Capitol Hill, there was a groundswell of Republican demands -- public and private -- … [Read more...] about George Bush: Isolated Now From Republicans?
Arnold, Rush Battle for Republican Party’s Soul
Arnold, Rush Battle for Republican Party's Soul I agree that this is the defining conversation for the conservative community: To what extent should there be compromise with Progressives. A few nuggets: ...Rush closed with this telling summary: ``The problem with that is the liberals and the Democrats aren't going to punt their ideology, because it defines them. … [Read more...] about Arnold, Rush Battle for Republican Party’s Soul
The Sheep Lay Down With the Lions
Why are these men smiling? The news that the leaders of Northern Ireland’s dominant rival groups have met face-to-face for the first time and agreed to form a joint administration for the long troubled province is an historic breakthrough. If it sticks. The sitdown between Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and the Rev. Ian Paisley, the Protestant leader, came more than four years … [Read more...] about The Sheep Lay Down With the Lions
How to write a real agent query letter- for my memoir Bedwetting: A Life
A while ago, I linked to a great, funny read at Jessica Schneider's blog. Many people enjoyed it tremendously... so here's another hilarious read (warning: adult language), about / by Johnny Schackleboomer, bedwetter extraordinare. … [Read more...] about How to write a real agent query letter- for my memoir Bedwetting: A Life