The New York Times reports: At least 250 militants were killed and an American helicopter was shot down in violent clashes near the southern city of Najaf on Sunday, Iraqi officials said. For 15 hours, Iraqi forces backed by American helicopters and tanks battled hundreds of gunmen hiding in a date palm orchard near the village of Zarqaa, about 120 miles south of Baghdad, … [Read more...] about Major Battle in Iraq: 250 ‘militiamen’ killed
Open Thread
Okay... last Saturday I wrote that we'll have an open thread every Saturday from then onward but today I start yet another open thread. Why? Because you all asked for it and I enjoy reading your opinions on articles you consider to be relevant. So: here is today's open thread. Enjoy! … [Read more...] about Open Thread
DVD Review: ‘My Family and Other Animals’
Two very different family films were featured in between the Australian Open tennis finals this past weekend at my house -- Little Miss Sunshine and My Family and Other Animals. Sunshine was a box office hit and has been nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture. This madcap comedy delivered, but it was My Family that charmed. Based on the 1956 autobiographical … [Read more...] about DVD Review: ‘My Family and Other Animals’
Suicide Bombing in Eilat Kills at Least Three
Jerusalem Post: In the first suicide bombing to strike Israel's southernmost city, a suicide bomber blew himself up in an Eilat bakery shortly before 9:30 a.m. Monday morning, killing at least three people and injuring an unknown number of others..... Ynet Haaretz BBC: "Our assumption is that it's not one bomber, and there might be more bombers in Eilat right … [Read more...] about Suicide Bombing in Eilat Kills at Least Three
Jeb Bush Excites Conservatives
It's clear that you shouldn't write former Governor Jeb Bush's political obituary yet -- at least not for 2012 and beyond, as you can see from this article:At a time when the conservative movement is looking bereft, humbled by midterm-election defeats and hungering for a presidential candidate to rally around, Jeb Bush delivered yesterday in Washington a resounding endorsement … [Read more...] about Jeb Bush Excites Conservatives
A Few Announcements
A few announcements about this site: YOU HAVE TO REGISTER NOW FOR COMMENTS: See buttons in upper right hand corner, on yellow edge of this page. If you need more info, read THIS POST. It's not to censor viewpoints. It's to prevent spam and spam from blocking off viewpoints. IF YOU HAVE SITE PROBLEMS: Notice that there is now an email address on the upper right so you … [Read more...] about A Few Announcements
Was Justice Ginsburg’s “Sensitivities” Comment Sexist?
Contra Captain Ed, no, it most certainly wasn't. And it actually reminds us of some important elements of how legal decisions are (or ought to be) made. … [Read more...] about Was Justice Ginsburg’s “Sensitivities” Comment Sexist?
Last Throes
Hopefully, his Washington Post editorial will be the last time we hear from Dinesh D'Souza. … [Read more...] about Last Throes
Gandhi Redux
What does Gandhi have to teach us about today's world? More than you might imagine. … [Read more...] about Gandhi Redux
Iran & Diplomacy At Point of Gun
It seems like deja vu all over again: The Bush administration claims that it is not trying to pick a fight with a Middle Eastern country with a significant oil industry that it claims has nuclear ambitions and harbors terrorists. This time, of course, it's Iran. Color me naïve, but I cannot believe that the White House would be so stupid as to provoke a war with Iran … [Read more...] about Iran & Diplomacy At Point of Gun
Open Microphones Deptartment
Open mikes and You Tube are everywhere and this time they've captured Hillary Clinton singing The Star Spangled Banner: PS: Voters should be relieved. Voters always worry every politician will give them a song and dance. Now we know Hillary can only give a dance. … [Read more...] about Open Microphones Deptartment
Obama at Harvard
The NY Times has an interesting background story up about Obama... his life at Harvard (Law School). For those interested, you can read more on this at Michael P.F. van der Galiën. … [Read more...] about Obama at Harvard
Inside a Shia Death Squad
Over at The Guardian: In the second of two remarkable dispatches from behind Baghdad's front lines, Ghaith Abdul-Ahad meets the commander of a Shia death squad Saturday January 27, 2007 The Guardian Fadhel is a slim, well-muscled 26-year-old Mahdi Army commander with a thin goatee beard and smoothed down hair that looks like a flat cap. One day last month he described … [Read more...] about Inside a Shia Death Squad
The Creation of a Big (New) Peace Movement?
The Washington Post reports that thousands of individuals protested Bush's Iraq policies / the Iraq war yesterday in Washington D.C. They came from across the country and across the activist spectrum, with a wide array of grievances. Many seemed to be under 30, but there were others who said they had been at the famed war protests of the 1960s and '70s. They came to … [Read more...] about The Creation of a Big (New) Peace Movement?
Hillary Clinton Takes “Responsibility” For Her Vote For War
New York Senator Hillary Clinton, the favorite in the (early) polls to gobble up the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination, has taken "responsibility" for her vote for the war -- yet another step in trying to satisfy those in her party who continue to clamor for her to express regret for her earlier vote. But will it be enough?New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton blamed … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Takes “Responsibility” For Her Vote For War
More On CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Versus V.P. Dick Cheney
Here's a lesson in "remedial journalism," from a longtime pro. … [Read more...] about More On CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Versus V.P. Dick Cheney
The Art Of The “Spin”
10 Zen Monkeys takes a detailed look at President George Bush and, in very specific terms, explores whether he "spun like Nixon." An intriguing must-read. Spin has become an artform in the United States. It's an art form in which the spinners barely disguise that they're spinning, those who report the spin know it's spinning but don't always awknowledge it, and many members … [Read more...] about The Art Of The “Spin”
Reminder: Comment Registration Required Starting Today
Just a reminder: as of today comment registration is required on this site if you want to post comments. This allows us to turn off the spam filter and keep legitimate comments where they should be: in the comments section of posts instead of the spam bin. You can start registering today by following some simple steps: 1. Go to the “Members Areaâ€? at the top of the site … [Read more...] about Reminder: Comment Registration Required Starting Today
Further Confirmation Why John Kerry Will Never Be President John Kerry
It's hard to believe he is a professional politician. Mind-boggling. We've said it here before: he has no political smarts. … [Read more...] about Further Confirmation Why John Kerry Will Never Be President John Kerry
Newsweek Poll Shows Bush State-of-the-Union Speech “Bump” Downwards
The latest Newsweek poll shows something you don't usually see: a President's poll rating go DOWN right after their State Of The Union address:President George W. Bush concluded his annual State of the Union address this week with the words “the State of our Union is strong … our cause in the world is right … and tonight that cause goes on.â€? Maybe so, but the state of … [Read more...] about Newsweek Poll Shows Bush State-of-the-Union Speech “Bump” Downwards