Groundhog Day is the delightfully dark comedy in which Bill Murray, who plays a TV weatherman, finds himself living the same day over and over again. Well, the war in Iraq ain't delightful, but it has taken on the same mondo bizzarro feel for this correspondent. Please click here for more. … [Read more...] about Iraq: The Same War Over and Over and . . .
Literary Quote of the Day: Lydia Maria Child
Today's literary quote is from Lydia Maria Child's Mrs. Child's Reply (to a letter sent to her by Mrs. Margaretta Mason): Men, however great they may be, are of small consequence in comparison with principles As always, share your thoughts on today's literary quote of the day in the comment section of this post. … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day: Lydia Maria Child
The Novel Approach Of “The Event”
The San Francisco Chronicle's Mick LaSalle is writing "The Event" and is using an interesting device to release his novel: a website that'll offer readers weekly installments. Here's his description:Imagine if everything the Religious Right believes about the End Times is true, except the Rapture doesn't take them and the antichrist turns out to be their favorite politician . . … [Read more...] about The Novel Approach Of “The Event”
Former Press Secretary Ari Fleischer Points Finger At Libby
The prosecution in the trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby featured a prominent witness yesterday to bolster its case: former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, who testified with immunity protection:Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer testified yesterday that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby divulged Valerie Plame's identity to him in July 2003, three days earlier … [Read more...] about Former Press Secretary Ari Fleischer Points Finger At Libby
‘Look, That IsWas My Boy!’
'Look! My boy did this! Isn't it great?!
Awww, how sweet, mama is proud of her little boy:
The mother of Muhammad Faisal Saksak, the 21-year-old suicide bomber who carried out Monday's attack in Eilat, said she was aware of her son's plan to blow himself up and that she had wished him "good luck."
Dozens of Palestinians, chanting slogans against Israel and the US, … [Read more...] about ‘Look, That IsWas My Boy!’
‘Here Comes Barbaro’
Barbaro is gone, but his historic victory in the 2006 Kentucky Derby lives on. Please click here for a pole-to-pole video of that great race. … [Read more...] about ‘Here Comes Barbaro’
When Pressure Works
Ali Ansari wrote quite a lousy op-ed about Iran for The Guardian. An excerpt: There can be little doubt that US hawks will interpret recent events as proof that pressure works, and that any more pressure will encourage the hawks further. Yet the reality is that while Ahmadinejad has been his own worst enemy, the US hawks are his best friends. Yep that is because, without … [Read more...] about When Pressure Works
A Bad Idea Whose Time Has Come
A perversely interesting aspect of the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the convicted killer of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981, is that the further you get from the scene of the crime the more people think he is innocent. I happened to have known Abu-Jamal. And while the criminal justice system did not exactly cover itself in glory in prosecuting him, he is as … [Read more...] about A Bad Idea Whose Time Has Come
And Don’t Forget The Earlier Fleischer
Previous generations associated the name "Fleischer" with Ari's relative, legendary animator Max Fleischer, most famous for his surreal Betty Boop and Popeye cartoons. Max Fleischer was Walt Disney's closest competitor until his studio went under (Disney had better financing). For younger readers who've never experienced a Fleischer cartoon (it cannot be confused with Hanna … [Read more...] about And Don’t Forget The Earlier Fleischer
Bush Moves Puts Political Gatekeepers In Charge Of Agencies
This question again, to Republicans: Is this REALLY what you had in mind for your party to do?President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy. In an executive order published last week in the … [Read more...] about Bush Moves Puts Political Gatekeepers In Charge Of Agencies
Surge In Iraq
From CagleCartoons: … [Read more...] about Surge In Iraq
Intelligence Failure
Puget Sound Professor Seth Weinberger has a summary and thoughts on a lecture by IR maven Robert Jervis, regarding our massive Iraq-centered intelligence failure. … [Read more...] about Intelligence Failure
The Credibility of Chuck Hagel
A front-page article in the The Washington Post on Friday on the prospects of a presidential run by Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska got right to the point: "His Republican colleagues regard him warily." "The White House barely speaks to him." "He is reviled by his party's conservative base." Those are, in my view, three unassailable reasons to like him. If they … [Read more...] about The Credibility of Chuck Hagel
Barbaro: The Horse That Wouldn’t Quit
(This is an update and my personal take on Holly's previous post below.) Barbaro, who captured America's heart when he won the Kentucky Derby and then broke it when he suffered a catastrophic leg injury at the Preakness Stakes, was put down today after making a recovery that had been nothing short of miraculous. The colt had undergone successful post-race surgery on his … [Read more...] about Barbaro: The Horse That Wouldn’t Quit
Maher Arar and a Tale of Two Countries
Maher Arar, you'll remember, is the Syrian-born Canadian citizen who in 2002 was detained by the U.S. at JFK airport in New York and "rendered" extraordinarily to Syria, where he was imprisoned and tortured before being released a year later. A formal inquiry initiated by the Canadian government and headed by Justice Dennis O'Connor fully exonerated him and recommended … [Read more...] about Maher Arar and a Tale of Two Countries
Center of Attention
Extra attention to a few Centrist blogs. The Gun Toting Liberal on the Clinton - Obama controversy. Tim F. at Balloon Juice: Bush's healthcare proposals will leave employees worse off. The more than just hilarious Jon Swift on a remarkable lady... as always with Jon an incredibly funny read. Michael J. Totten on Hezbollah propaganda... they … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Quasi-moview review
Cross-posted to Random Fate. ---- A few weeks ago I tried to write a movie review of <em>Casino Royale</em>, the new James Bond movie. (In case you're interested, I enjoyed the movie a lot, especially considering I went into it expecting to not like it.. I'll finish the full review if anyone cares to read it at this late date after the release of the movie). This … [Read more...] about Quasi-moview review
Young British Muslims Getting More Radical
Ah, well, at least they're politically engaged The Telegraph has wonderful news. Well ‘news’ - it’s something most people already knew, but it’s always nice when studies back up common sense / knowledge. The ‘news’? Young British Muslims are getting more and more radical. In fact, they are “adopting more fundamentalist beliefs on key social and political issues … [Read more...] about Young British Muslims Getting More Radical
Comments
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Cry for a Horse
MSNBC Breaking News: Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized this morning, co-owner says … [Read more...] about Cry for a Horse