All the news that's fit to print. Featuring links to that empirical data on the benefits of diverse schooling y'all have been pestering me about. … [Read more...] about Louisville and Seattle Integration Case Round-Up

John Kerry claims that Donald Rumsfeld's Iraq policy suggestions mirror what he advocated during the 2004 elections. Jason Zengerle: "Wow, a plan for Iraq that has the backing of Rumsfeld and Kerry? Sounds like a winner!" … [Read more...] about Dynamic Duo

My former mother-in-law was convinced that the Apollo moon landing was an elaborate hoax. I wonder what she'll think of this (Washington Post):NASA unveiled plans yesterday to set up a small and ultimately self-sustaining settlement of astronauts at the south pole of the moon sometime around 2020 — the first step in an ambitious plan to resume manned exploration of the … [Read more...] about Moondreams

Pataki is contemplating whether or not to run for President. As James Joyner points out, 'with Rudy Giuliani, Hillary Clinton, and Michael Bloomberg already leaning toward running, it would be one crowded field of New Yorkers vying for the White House.' James concludes:I guess they figure if you can make it there you can make it anywhere but they may well wind up splitting the … [Read more...] about New York, New York

Hillary is calling her friends in Iowa:Sen. Hillary Clinton began making calls Monday to Iowa Democrats about the state's political landscape with an eye toward its 2008 presidential nominating caucuses, aides to Clinton said. The moves come as the New York senator has accelerated the steps she has taken since her November re-election toward making a decision about whether to … [Read more...] about Just Making Some Phone Calls

The executive director of the American Jewish Committee, David A. Harris, has published an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post concerning former President Jimmy Carter and his recent book.Carter's compromised statesmanship December 5, 2006 Whatever else one might have said about the presidency of Jimmy Carter, he was a statesman. As much as any international figure before or since, he … [Read more...] about J Post Op-Ed: Carter’s compromised statesmanship

I came across a sad statistic the other day while combing through Iraq war casualty figures: There have been 88 reported suicides of U.S. troops. I was having trouble putting this number in context. Was it too high? Too low? How many suicides stemmed from the godawful pressures of fighting in an unpopular war against an elusive enemy? I got the context I needed — and … [Read more...] about Iraq & The Army’s Disdain For Its Mentally Ill

One of our favorite websites that looks at foreign policy is American Future, a site that like this one may vary in outlook from time to time (center to center right). It's a no-nonsense website that looks at foreign news. It was one of the first sites to link to our co-blogger David Schraub's great weblog. And it's one of those (few) weblogs dedicated to serious policy … [Read more...] about Welcome Our Latest New Blogger

This ought to shake up some conversation.... Somebody has to say it: Al-qaeda is not an existential threat to America's existence. It's time to stop using rhetoric and proposing policies that pretend that it is one. … [Read more...] about Bald Eagle

I don't remember why I had stayed after my 1 a.m. quitting time as night city editor of the Philadelphia Daily News early on the morning of December 9 some 25 years ago this week, but I do remember that I was talking to the overnight editor when a message crackled over one of the police radio scanners:"Officer down at 13th and Arch. Send back-up and assistance."Police Office … [Read more...] about Mumia Abu-Jamal: Still Guilty After All These Years

...when he's on C-SPAN. PS: And it wasn't from a fan. TMV's Personal View: In policy terms, Carter was one of the most ineffective Presidents in American history. I was in Spain writing for The Christian Science Monitor and other newspapers when he was elected. I was with friends from Madrid University when I watched his debate with then-President Gerald Ford on a TV video … [Read more...] about Former President Jimmy Carter Gets Some Feedback

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:Bush: Heckuva Job, Al-Maliki President’s Words of Praise May Mean Iraqi Premier is Through In a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki today, President George W. Bush reportedly told him that he had his “full supportâ€? and that he was doing “a heckuva job,â€? indicating that Mr. al-Maliki’s tenure in … [Read more...] about This Just In!!

">Newt Gingrich, one of my favorite conservatives, opened a controversy by saying "Either before we lose a city, or, if we are truly stupid, after we lose a city, we will adopt rules of engagement that use every technology we can find to break up [terrorists'] capacity to use the Internet, to break up their capacity to use free speech [protections] and to go after people who … [Read more...] about Free Speech in the Age of Terrorism

In Denial or Afraid of Losing Face? A must read post by Juan Cole at Informed Comment:AP also reports that President Jalal Talabani, Foreign Minister Barham Salih, and leader of the United Iraqi Alliance Abdul Aziz al-Hakim have all rejected United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's call for an international conference on Iraq. Talabani said, "We are an independent and a … [Read more...] about Talabani In Denial Or…?

(Or "Just another day in the life and death of Iraq XXV" at The Reaction.) From CNN: -- "Nine U.S. troops died in Iraq during the weekend, including five killed by roadside bombs, the U.S. military reported Sunday." -- "Iraqi police found 51 bodies across the Iraqi capital, all shot to death, a Baghdad emergency police official said Sunday. Some were blindfolded with bound … [Read more...] about So is Iraq your cup of tea?

I realize that this image is shocking, but reality is shocking sometimes. To be honest, there were far more shocking ones, this was one of the least shocking ones... that says a lot, doesn't it?. For as long as I can remember, I have supported pro-choice movements. The support mostly based on the Idea that the government has, in general, no right - or at least should have no … [Read more...] about Abortion: A Personal Dilemma

John Bolton has resigned as US ambassador to the UN. Bush was, obviously, disappointed.President Bush today accepted the resignation of John R. Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, expressing deep disappointment that "a handful" of senators had blocked his confirmation last year. "It is with deep regret that I accept John Bolton's decision to end his service in the … [Read more...] about Bolton Resigns… Bush Accepts

Earlier this morning, I wrote about the New Orleans Saints -- a story of success and hope in the larger tale of a struggling city. For forty years, the Saints have been part of the rich gumbo of New Orleans’ soul — one of many crucial elements that, when mixed together, created an utterly unique culture. They’re neither the only ingredient nor the oldest, but they’re … [Read more...] about Saints and Sinners in New Orleans

The Wall Street Journal ran an article about how some Senators are asking the Oil Industry to stop resisting efforts to curb Global Warming. The WSJ articles says:"Every dogma has its day, and we've lived long enough to see more than one "consensus" blown apart within a few years of "everyone knowing" it was true. In recent decades environmentalists have been wrong about … [Read more...] about Global Warming – Pound Wise and Penny Foolish

A... different kind of education An interesting article at TNR about the conservative model for improving schools.My wife spent a few years teaching in a mostly low-income elementary school. The main thing I remember her telling me was that parental involvement was a near-perfect predictor of her students' performance. The kids with active parents did well, and the kids with … [Read more...] about Conservatives and Education