Hot Air has an interesting post up on Iraq with links to quite some interesting articles. One of them (The Guardian): "Its not a good time to be a Sunni in Baghdad," Abu Omar told me in a low voice. He had been on the Americans' wanted list for three years but I had never seen him so anxious; he had trimmed his beard in the close-cropped Shia style and kept looking towards the … [Read more...] about More Iraq
Literary Quote of the Day: Catharine Maria Sedgwick
Today's quote is from Catharine Maria Sedgwick's A Reminiscence of Federalism. It is a common doctrine, but one not favorable to virtue, that characters are formed by circumstances. If it be true, my friend Randolph was a noble exception; his character controlled circumstances; and, by the best of all alchymy, he extracted wholesome food out of the materials that might have … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day: Catharine Maria Sedgwick
Guess What Blog MSNBC’S Tucker Carlson Doesn’t Like? (UPDATED)
No, it isn't The Moderate Voice, although he may not be happy with the picture at left. We got it off the Internet. (It IS NOT of Tucker Carlson and we are not saying it is. It's not dancing.). Once upon a time there was a clerk in a video store. He rented some movies to a famous cable talk show host and then he posted a few things about his encounter on his blog. Then, … [Read more...] about Guess What Blog MSNBC’S Tucker Carlson Doesn’t Like? (UPDATED)
Spaniards Protest Basque Separatist ETA’s Bullet-Riddled “Ceasefire”
The Basque separatist ETA has been pitchforked into international news again, sparking demonstration in Spain, angry debate among Spaniards about the proper attitude and response to it and one charge that some aspects of news agency accounts of the demonstrations are not quite accurate. First, for a comprehensive backgrounder on Spain's long-term problems with ETA, read … [Read more...] about Spaniards Protest Basque Separatist ETA’s Bullet-Riddled “Ceasefire”
A Song Dedicated To Iran’s President
From the wonderful 2005 movie version of The Producers, which you can buy here.: … [Read more...] about A Song Dedicated To Iran’s President
The 110th Congress
From moderate cartoonist Tom Briscoe: … [Read more...] about The 110th Congress
Freedom means Opportunity
David Brooks wrote an Op-ed in the NY Times, "The American Way of Equality", about the unique way Americans view freedom. (unfortunately it is available only through the Times Select Paid subscription.). He describes the work of recently deceased Seymour Martin Lipset who, over a lifetime of research, made distinctions between the US and other Cultures. Mr. Lipset pointed … [Read more...] about Freedom means Opportunity
Resolution of the Day
If you go to school in Minnesota, and did not originally hail from a southern state which thinks ice doesn't occur in nature, not owning a pair of ice skates is a crime punishable by excommunication. … [Read more...] about Resolution of the Day
Blogger Faces “Utter Emergency”
Gary Farber, one of the more independent-thinking bloggers around, has a major personal emergency and he's asking readers of his site and hopefully others who read about it to help. And he has set it up so they CAN, if they wish to. First, read the post HERE. Secondly, make sure you read the bottom of it. Thirdly, if you understand what he's writing about and think you … [Read more...] about Blogger Faces “Utter Emergency”
Cut and blame?
A new poll shows that "70 percent of Americans oppose sending more troops" to Iraq. That is, they oppose the surge, the escalation, Bush's "new" strategy. Bush hasn't just lost the Iraq War. He's lost the American people. ********** Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, one of the most partisan of a hyper-partisan caucus of Republicans, has announced that he will … [Read more...] about Cut and blame?
Tagged!
I've been 'tagged' by fellow TMV co-blogger Michael J. Stickings. Joe answered the questions yesterday already. I answered the questions today. You can read them here. Furthermore, I in my turn have tagged PatHMV of Stubborn Facts, Libby Spencer of The Impolitic, Michael Linn Jones of the Gun Toting Liberal and Citizen Smash... … [Read more...] about Tagged!
Bush’s war on Iran
From the Times: A recent series of American raids against Iranians in Iraq was authorized under an order that President Bush decided to issue several months ago to undertake a broad military offensive against Iranian operatives in the country, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday. To be fair -- and I suppose one ought to try to be fair even in criticism of … [Read more...] about Bush’s war on Iran
Center of Attention
Extra attention to a few Centrist blogs... McQ at QandO on the surge: is it fair to expect results in 6 months time and... won't a withdrawal within six months time simply mean that the terrorists will get out of the areas for 6 months, and come back right after the U.S. withdraws? An interesting read. Amba spends some attention to Gerald Ford's views different U.S. … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Hillary Clinton: Time to Withdraw
Hillary Clinton told ABC News that, in her opinion, the American people and Congress don't believe that "this mission [Iraq] can work." She added: "And in the absence of a commitment that is backed up by actions from the Iraqi government, why should we believe it?" Later: "I'm skeptical that the Iraqi government will do what they have promised to do, and that I think is … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton: Time to Withdraw
Farewell
Due to personal reasons, I regret to say my tenure as a T.M.V. contributor has come to an end. Thanks to my colleagues and readers, it's truly been an honor and a BLAST to write on Joe's great site I've admired so over the years. Best luck for the future to all! I'll still be blogging at my personal site, ZenithBlog.com, and I'm on the staff of an unofficial Mitt Romney … [Read more...] about Farewell
Duke Rape Case
From 60 Minutes: The forensic expert hired by the prosecutor in the Duke rape case says he made a "big error" in judgment by not stating in his report that the only DNA he found on the accuser was from several men who were not on the Duke lacrosse team. Dr. Brian Meehan speaks with 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl in his first interview about the controversial case … [Read more...] about Duke Rape Case
When Dumb Political Activism Attacks
Sometimes we all think people know where we basically stand on issues. And sometimes we learn that people either don't really know, or they don't really care. There's smart political activism, and there's dumb political activism. Here's some dumb political activism via Citizen Smash, one of the best known "milibloggers."I SAW IT IN MY INBOX this evening. It was an email from … [Read more...] about When Dumb Political Activism Attacks
This Just In!!
THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Bin Laden Denounces Inclusion on Worst Dressed List Declares Global Jihad against Mr. Blackwell A furious Osama bin Laden appeared on the Arabic-language Al-Jazeera network last night to denounce his inclusion on the latest edition of Mr. Blackwell’s infamous Worst Dressed List. In his half-hour tirade, the … [Read more...] about This Just In!!
Terrorism: Distant Jetliner, Present Threat
It seemed like the whole world was spread out before us from our vantage point atop the sand dune. The gibbous moon was behind our backs, its surreal light casting shadows on beach and ocean. It was still nearly an hour before sunrise, but a sliver of hot pink hugged the horizon to the east. Venus sparkled overhead. Arrayed around it were familiar constellations, dominated by … [Read more...] about Terrorism: Distant Jetliner, Present Threat
First Thing We Do, Threaten All The Lawyers
A top administration official wonders aloud if lawyers defending detainees are taking money from the other side. Oh, and suggests that corporations should boycott them for daring to defend pro bono those who would otherwise have no lawyer at all. … [Read more...] about First Thing We Do, Threaten All The Lawyers