They're off. And we don't mean mentally (although some could make an argument that's the case). 2007 is not even a teenager yet and campaign 2008 is well underway. Candidates in both parties -- and the parties themselves -- have already begun the process of trying to put their best foot (and images) forward, without putting their foot in their mouths (an affliction that … [Read more...] about The 2008 Presidential Race Has Begun
Nancy Pelosi Makes History And Now Comes The Toughest Part
Sometimes political demonization works. Sometimes it fails. It clearly failed in the case of Rep. Nancy Pelosi who became the boogywoman in 2006 GOP political mailers, on talk radio, and in fund raising speeches. The rhetorical question usually was like this:"Can you just IMAGINE what it would be like if the Democrats win and San Francisco liberal Nancy Pelosi becomes … [Read more...] about Nancy Pelosi Makes History And Now Comes The Toughest Part
Classic Comedy: Laurel & Hardy
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were perhaps the screen's most beloved comedy team. And there was a reason: these two guys genuinely enjoyed working together. So when they did a slapstick type film, there was special chemistry -- and nowhere did this chemistry come across more than during their rare musical numbers on the screen. Their stage act was also boffo because they were so … [Read more...] about Classic Comedy: Laurel & Hardy
Oops Again!
We just put up a post but removed it since it's supposed to go on at a different time. Sorry for the error! We're still learning our way around WordPress. … [Read more...] about Oops Again!
Up or Out
From the grapevine: US ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad will be nominated to our UN ambassadorship post. This would make him the highest ranking Muslim in American government history. Khalilzad is a very talented diplomat--but he'll be tainted by his association with this administration's failed policies in Iraq. Good luck to him--he'll need it. My extended thoughts here. … [Read more...] about Up or Out
Incommunicado
He's kind of old news, ever since we dropped the dirty bomb charges, but I still think it's worth noting that it appears that Jose Padilla "has basically gone insane during his time in U.S. military custody, after four years of stress positions and 'total sensory deprivation.'" … [Read more...] about Incommunicado
Indiana Voter ID Law Upheld
This will help stem the massive tide of voter fraud in the Hoosier state. [/sarcasm] … [Read more...] about Indiana Voter ID Law Upheld
Back to the Basics
(Former?) Republican John Cole remarks on the GOP's remarkably-quick relapse into perpetual victimhood. A RedState commenter throws up his hands: Once, just once, I would love to see the Republicans demonstrate the grace of consistency. Why is it that we have to raise crassness to the level of our highest principle? Good question. … [Read more...] about Back to the Basics
Center of Attention
Some extra attention to a few centrist blogs: McQ at QandO writes that QandO has been attacked by hackers on several occasions by now. Yesterday they got to the blogging software. This morning they went after the ftp. In both cases Dale was able to catch it and frustrate it fairly quickly. John Cole at Balloon Juice: All Your Mail Are Belong to U.S. It seems that U.S. … [Read more...] about Center of Attention
Literary Quote of the Day: Walt Whitman
Today's literary quote of the day is from Walt Whitman's When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd (Memories of President Lincoln): O powerful western fallen star! O shades of night - O moody, tearful night! O great star disappear'd - O the black murk that hides the star! O cruel hands that hold me powerless - O helpless soul of me! O harsh surrounding cloud that will not … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day: Walt Whitman
There Goes Condi!
Quite some people wondered why John Negroponte would take a demotion from Director of National Intelligence to become Condoleezza Rice's #2 at the State Department. Democrats.com has an interesting possible answer to that question: There's a very simple reason: Karl Rove has chosen Condi Rice to run for President, and he needs to line up her replacement so she can resign in … [Read more...] about There Goes Condi!
The warmest year
British meteorologists are predicting that 2007 will likely be "the warmest year on record," according to the BBC. The two leading causes? El Niño in the Pacific and -- you guessed it -- more general global warming as a result of "greenhouse gas emissions from human activity". A warmer planet? How inconvenient. I'm sure it's all just part of the great big hoax. … [Read more...] about The warmest year
(Updated) Homeland Insecurity in the Age of Bush
Do you feel safer than you did in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks? If so, you must have been living in an awfully swell cave. (You didn't happen to see a tall, bearded guy with a headscarf and a Kalashnikov, did you?) The fact of the matter is that President Bush has been unable to keep his lofty post-9/11 promise to reform America's long dysfunctional intelligence … [Read more...] about (Updated) Homeland Insecurity in the Age of Bush
On a solution to the Iraq mess
There can be a start to a solution to the Iraq mess if Washington truly considers thinking out of the box to see what might be best for the Iraq’s unfortunate people rather than how to lighten the load on America. There can be a start to a solution to the Iraq mess if Washington truly considers thinking out of the box to see what might be best for the Iraq’s unfortunate … [Read more...] about On a solution to the Iraq mess
It’s All in the Translation
Human Events, a so-called bastion of modern American conservatism, is pushing a book by Gregory M. Davis titled Religion of Peace? Islam's War Against the World. This book (and the H.E. promotional effort behind it) might help explain the shorts-in-a-bunch syndrome that has recently infected Congressman Goode and Pundit Prager, as dissected multiple times at TMV and … [Read more...] about It’s All in the Translation
Playing games with life and death
It seems that President Bush will announce his "new" strategy for Iraq next week. This strategy, however spun, will include as a key component a "surge" of troops into Baghdad in a last-ditch effort to provide security and quell the insurgency. Abizaid, Casey, and the other top generals in Iraq do not think that a surge of troops -- that is, a short-term troop increase -- will … [Read more...] about Playing games with life and death
More on The Execution
-- The AP is reporting that, in contrast to the State Department and the military, the White House is refusing to criticize the disgusting conduct of the execution. Yet more abdication of responsibility from the masters of it. -- Meanwhile, according to the Post, the guard who recorded the execution on his cellphone has been arrested by Iraqi authorities. This is the … [Read more...] about More on The Execution
Rebuilding New Orleans the best they can
One week shy of a year ago, the Bring New Orleans Back commission unveiled their recommendations for recovery and rebuilding NOLA. The response was underwhelming, as the Washington Post wrote in January 2006: Hundreds of residents packed into a hotel ballroom interrupted the presentation of the long-awaited proposal with shouts and taunts, booed its main architect and unrolled … [Read more...] about Rebuilding New Orleans the best they can
The Cleavers & America’s Hidden Epidemic
As anyone on the business end of a hospital emergency room will tell you, there is a hidden drug epidemic in the U.S. that grows larger and more ferocious by the year. What they also will tell you is that many of the "victims" of this epidemic are not rebellious teenagers from suburban McMansions or potty-mouthed rappers from inner city neighborhoods who have OD'd on illegal … [Read more...] about The Cleavers & America’s Hidden Epidemic
Why Hawks Win
Elizabeth Glassanos/FOREIGN POLICY Daniel Kahneman and Jonathan Renshon wrote an interesting article for Foreign Policy called Why Hawks Win. National leaders get all sorts of advice in times of tension and conflict. But often the competing counsel can be broken down into two basic categories. On one side are the hawks: They tend to favor coercive action, are more willing … [Read more...] about Why Hawks Win