The voting in the 2006 weblog awards is now open! You can cast a vote for my blog, The Debate Link, here. The scripts for "Best Centrist Blog" (TMVs category) isn't up yet, but once it does I'll give you the link. Best of luck! UPDATE: We're in business! Vote for Best Centrist Blog here. … [Read more...] about Vote (Day One)!

No Pete, it's not a law firm. Read Pete Abel's post regarding "the decision of Rick Warren (a conservative evangelical) to invite Senator Obama (a progressive ?) to speak at his church on the global AIDS crisis." … [Read more...] about Obama, Dionne and Warren

CBS has this tidbit about George W. Bush's response to a question about James Baker:Asked if Baker would help implement the report, a spokesman for Mr. Bush said, "Jim Baker can go back to his day job."We thank Hines Site for the tip. … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: George Bush On James Baker

Michael Ledeen reports for Pajamas Media that Ayatollah Khamenei was rushed to the hospital three days ago: Three days ago, Iran’s dictator, Supreme Leader Ayatollah ali Khamenei, was rushed to the vast medical facility traditionally known as “Vanakâ€? hospital (it now has an Arabic name that means “the 12th Imam Hospitalâ€?), a 1,200-room facility that saves half of its … [Read more...] about PJM: Khamenei Rushed to Hospital

A while ago I published a post linking to an article in which an advisor of the Saudi government was quoted as writing that the Kingdom should and would support Iraqi Sunnis once the U.S. withdraws from the country as to prevent genocide and to prevent Iran from having too much power in the region. Today the AP reports that Saudi civilians are already supporting Sunni militias … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia ‘Supporting’ Iraqi Sunnis

ABC News reports that Arizona Senator John McCain is poised to pick GOP campaign operative Terry Nelson as his pick to be his national campaign manager — news that will cause some voters to raise their eyebrows all the way up to the tops of their skulls. And probably cause some to re-evaluate whether a vote for McCain and his "Straight Talk Express" might be endorsing a … [Read more...] about John McCain’s New Campaign Manager Linked To (In)Famous Harold Ford Ad

Kassim Ouma was abducted and forced to fight as a child soldier in Uganda's grisly civil war. Now, he's a boxing star fighting for a world title. I'll be rooting for him this weekend. Such horrors should never be visited upon anyone. … [Read more...] about Child Soldier to World Champion

Slowly but surely the Conservative Jewish Teshuvot on gay and lesbian issues are emerging. The opinion of Rabbis Nevins, Dorff, and Reisner (the liberal one that was approved) is now available, along with some commentary (but not the full text) of the other 4 Teshuvot considered. … [Read more...] about Slow Revelation

And is there an issue that could lead to an end to the standoff? Some thoughts here. … [Read more...] about Should The U.S. Press Be Giving More Coverage to Demonstrations In Lebanon?

Are we allowed to use the word "insidious?"(NOTE: There is a denial of this report see below) Or must we watch what we eat and breathe from now on if we do? We'll say it: it is insidious:Russian businessman Dmitry Kovtun, a key figure in the poisoning investigation of ex-security agent Alexander Litvinenko, is in a coma, a Russian news agency reported Thursday. The Interfax … [Read more...] about Russian Businessman Is Poisoned And In Coma (UPDATE: DENIED)

This article at the NY Times focuses on using biometrics to identify people traveling through Heathrow Airport. Some folks are anxious about the misuse of this data. Some folks are concerned about the reliability of the technology. I am begining to warm up to its possibilities because I would like for it to be easier to intercept predators, and to exonerate the harmless. I … [Read more...] about A National ID

The Carpetbagger Report relayed an item about Senator Arlen Specter working to undo the damage of allowing the reduction in Habeas Corpus protection."When the Military Commissions Act, which among other things suspended habeas corpus for suspected terrorists, went to the Senate floor in September, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) voiced some relatively passive concerns. He offered an … [Read more...] about Hope for Habeas Corpus

I sat down this morning to write about the reactions to Mary Cheney's pregnancy, but as I mentally organized my thoughts, I was distracted by activity outside. It was my neighbor leaving for work, and I paused to watch as she wheeled out the trash cans, carried the recycle tubs, and then helped her young daughter into the backseat before closing the garage door and driving … [Read more...] about A mother and a father can’t replace love

Robert Gates is the new defense secretary. After an easy ride through the Senate Armed Services Committee -- easy because Gates was honest and realistic about Iraq, a notable shift away from Rumsfeld's bombast -- the full Senate approved him by a vote of 95-2 yesterday. And who were those two? Republicans -- yes, Republicans -- Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Jim Bunning of … [Read more...] about Senate confirms Gates

As anyone who has spent any time in a hospital knows, it's the nurses who make things work. That said, the nursing profession is in crisis, which tends to get overlooked in discussions about the U.S. health-care system, which also is in crisis. Many nurses are asked to work unreasonably long hours and mandatory overtime. The number of patients for whom nurses are responsible … [Read more...] about The Crisis in American Nursing. Stat!

The people who lived through it, who were there, and who were motivated to serve in World War II because of it are fewer and fewer. So let's not forget: … [Read more...] about Remember

Robert Novak, in his weekly email newsletter, has this item about Arizona Senator John McCain:Much of Republican Washington turned out at the huge Christmas party Monday night hosted by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at the Corcoran Art Gallery. Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), the newly elected Senate minority whip, has emerged as a major McCain backer. McCain is not only the … [Read more...] about Is John McCain Now The Republican “Establishment” 2008 Candidate?

Raw Story has this interesting post about the Rupert Murdoch-owned New York Post's reaction to the Iraq Study Group report. A headline showing the report's chairmen is worth a thousand words: Read the link for more details. … [Read more...] about Monkeying Around With Iraq?

One of the most bitter pills for the Bush administration in the Iraq Study Group's report is the admonition (noted not once but twice) that the U.S. cannot begin to build broad international support for Iraq unless it:"[R]ejects the notion that the United States seeks to control Iraq's oil, or seeks permanent military bases within Iraq."And later in the report:"The President … [Read more...] about Baseless Speculation in Iraq

There has been one tangible benefit to the release of the Iraq Study Group's findings so far: a top Republican loyalist (Baker) is on record calling for radical changes in US policy in Iraq. As important, this "eminent" body has declared Iraq to be an utter failure, as if the sentient among us hadn't already figured that out. Either way, having such a high-profile panel rebuke … [Read more...] about What’s Really Wrong with the Iraq Study Group