John McCain’s “In Your Dreams” Express
The New York Times has a truly bittersweet piece on Senator John McCain trying to regain his 2000 man-of-independence imagery by taking a train called The Straight Talk Express -- a problem underscored by the fact that polls show many voters consider his sagging 2006 campaign The Pander Parade:Senator John McCain of Arizona worked hard for years to make himself the … [Read more...] about John McCain’s “In Your Dreams” Express
But What About Judge Crater and Jimmy Hoffa?
Out of respect for his victims, I am refraining from jumping on the bandwagon (at least with both feet) of pundits who are cracking wise over Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s claim that he was responsible for everything from masterminding the 9/11 attacks to tutoring shoe bomber Richard Reid to the Bali nightclub bombing to beheading Danny Pearl. But it does beg credulity that a … [Read more...] about But What About Judge Crater and Jimmy Hoffa?
Death of Neoconservatism
Jacob Weisberg wrote an interesting column for the Financial Times, proclaiming that neoconservatives are ‘history’. In essence: Iraq is a disaster, Iraq is neoconservative foreign policy actually being implemented, Rice is “returning to her realist rootsâ€?, on defense, Rumsfeld has been replaced by Gates and, lastly, Dick Cheney was once one of the most powerful VP’s … [Read more...] about Death of Neoconservatism
Gonzales Outlasts Gonzaga
An update from a post yesterday:Gonzales outlasts Gonzaga. … [Read more...] about Gonzales Outlasts Gonzaga
Iraq Target Voting Down
U.S. Senate rejected a binding resolution that "would have set a target date a little more than a year from now for the withdrawal of most U.S. combat troops from Iraq." Two nonbinding resolutions were, however, approved. The resolution needed 60 votes to pass. Instead, it didn't even get the support of the majority: Lieberman joined the Republican Senators, as did … [Read more...] about Iraq Target Voting Down
Blumenthal: “All Roads Lead To Rove:
Sidney Blumenthal, writing in Salon, comes out and says what is becoming increasingly clear as fact trickle out about the fired prosecutors: "All Roads Lead To Rove." Some excerpts:The Bush administration's first instinct was to shield Karl Rove from scrutiny when Congress began inquiring about the unusual firings of eight U.S. attorneys. ...Rove was the conduit for Republican … [Read more...] about Blumenthal: “All Roads Lead To Rove:
The Sopranos Will Return Soon
And here's a You Tube tribute to the opening title of the show -- this time shot in Austin, TX: … [Read more...] about The Sopranos Will Return Soon
Pledge Of Justice
New Emails Detail Rove Played Role In Instigating Prosecutor Firings
Yet another batch of emails spells more trouble for White House political maven Karl Rove, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and -- to be sure -- President George Bush even though the White House is saying, in effect, that it's no big deal: New unreleased e-mails from top administration officials show that the idea of firing all 93 U.S. attorneys was raised by White House … [Read more...] about New Emails Detail Rove Played Role In Instigating Prosecutor Firings
Judge a Book by its Cover
We are taught to believe that one should not judge a book by its cover. Well, that's not true and Jessica Schneider explains why (warning: adult language). … [Read more...] about Judge a Book by its Cover
Rove And Justice
Irrational Atheists
Many atheists consider people who adhere to a religion to be 'irrational', at least in that regard. Well, if one wants proof that atheists can be irrational, and even extreme as well, I'd say go ahead and read Sam Harris' column in the Los Angeles Times. He has some good points and then wanders off into the world of the anti-religion atheist. … [Read more...] about Irrational Atheists
A Two Year Wrinkle in Time
Just the other day, Dear Husband (DH) was lamenting the paucity of specifics, in either policy or platform, from the presidential candidates thus far. Via the NY Times, Hillary has come to his rescue -- and in the process, she's sent any number of folks over the edge, leaving me to conclude that everyone's somehow lost sight of the fact that whatever the situation in Iraq … [Read more...] about A Two Year Wrinkle in Time
National Journal: Bush Helped Sideline Potential Justice Dept Probe Of Gonzales
If Murray Waas' story in the National Journal is picked up and expanded upon by a larger number of news organizations then the growing scandal over Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will raise a whole new questions about President George Bush's role:Shortly before Attorney General Alberto Gonzales advised President Bush last year on whether to shut down a Justice Department … [Read more...] about National Journal: Bush Helped Sideline Potential Justice Dept Probe Of Gonzales
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: One Man Terrorist Organization
The Washington Post reports that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, whom the Americans suspected of being the ‘mastermind’ behind 9/11, has confessed to that terrorist attack and to some 30 other ones. Now, you all know me as being quite hawkish, aggressive when it comes to the war on terrorist, etc., but these confessions seem to be tainted, to say the least. Please click here … [Read more...] about Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: One Man Terrorist Organization
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS
Looking at the Big Picture in the House Because one Crystal Ball analysis piece (We Were Merely Freshmen?) laced with references to popular music deserves another, we decided to take our readers back in time this week and tip our hat to an old blues song Led Zeppelin revived in 1971. The first lines should be familiar to many a Robert Plant die-hard in our readership: "If … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS
Thoughts on Hagel
I'm afraid that I missed this column by E.J. Dionne Jr. earlier this week, but better late than never, as they say. It's a great, highly interesting column about Hagel (and the other Republican candidates). A thing worth mentioning, something that everyone should realize is that although Hagel seems to be a 'maverick' regarding his view on the war in Iraq, he isn't much of … [Read more...] about Thoughts on Hagel
Of Muslim ‘Madarsas’ & Christianity Classes
The very mention of the word "madarsa" or Islamic religious school almost creates a hysteria. It was interesting to see this video on "Christian classes" in the US schools. Vittal in his blog writes: "It really scares me to see how people base their moral judgments strictly on their religious beliefs and teachings. Let me make it very clear – I am not against any religion … [Read more...] about Of Muslim ‘Madarsas’ & Christianity Classes