A while ago I informed you all that I was supposed to write an article about America's biggest problem. Because I found the subject to be quite difficult, so many problems, I asked you all for advice. Firstly, let me thank all of you for your input: it was very valuable and informative. Secondly, after doing some research and reading a lot, I decided to write the essay about … [Read more...] about America’s #1 Problem: Updated

Fred Barnes in the Weekly Standard suggests how the President can best use his remaining time in office. * Fire generals. * Keep John Bolton * Stop earmarks. * Give judicial nominees recess appointments. * Talk up the military option in Iran. * Apply the Kennedy model to North Korea. * Push a radical energy independence plan. * Implement the military … [Read more...] about Bush – Swing for the fences

Andrew Sullivan on what seems to be an effort to go after Iraq Study Group co-chaired by former Secretary of State Jim Baker, considered by many to be a kind of political alter ego of Bush 41 and notable unfavorite of Bush 43:There is a mood on the right at this moment that is not entirely rational. They are lashing out at the people who can rescue them from the folly of the … [Read more...] about Quote Of The Day: Andrew Sullivan On Pre-Emptive Attempts To Discredit The Baker Commission

He was my choice from the outset, more or less, but I didn't think he would win. Not with a high-profile celebrity candidate like Michael Ignatieff heading to the leadership convention with the most delegates and an aura of Trudeau about him, not with the formidable Bob Rae in the race. Perhaps an alliance with Gerard Kennedy would help, but I thought the anti-Ignatieff … [Read more...] about Stephane Dion wins Liberal leadership race in Canada

Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean got it right. He is telling Democrats that they shouldn't view the November election victories as a restoration, but as a loan of power — to see what they can do. Basically, the Democrats are like a brand, new employee who's hired and is initially on probation. Should independents, centrists and moderates who fled … [Read more...] about Howard Dean Gets It Right: Democratic Victories Are Loan, Not Gift

A new irony in the Iraq War and a new public relations headache have surfaced for President George Bush. The source: a report in the New York Times about a classified memo by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld submitted to the White House two days before Rumsfeld's resignation as Defense Secretary — a resignation that is widely conceded to have come with a strong shove … [Read more...] about Rumsfeld Urged “Major Adjustment” In Iraq Policy Before Quitting (UPDATED)

People following the Michael Richards debacle have noted the obvious descent of Richards into rage and racism and some have noted how comedy clubs have become havens for the comedy of anger. Anger has been around as a comedy prop for a long time. But few have funneled it so creatively, humorously and artistically than the late Sam Kinison. Younger readers and comedy fans … [Read more...] about When “Anger Comedy” Could Be Comedy

Want any more proof that Afghanistan is lost? No? Well too bad because the opium poppy production is going gangbusters. Literally record crops. I talk more about this craziness here. UPDATE: From the the comments section...The crop could and should be bought at the grower level. The farmers in Afghanistan will make maybe $ 2.5-3 billion for their crop selling to gangsters … [Read more...] about Meanwhile, In The World Of Heroin…

"U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois told more than 2,000 evangelical leaders in Orange County on Friday that he “respectfully but unequivocallyâ€? disagrees with those who oppose condom distribution to fight the AIDS pandemic. But he said a solution to the worldwide spread of AIDS would also come from churches guiding people to make moral decisions…In measured words, he … [Read more...] about Obama being Obama

Can you all help me out by recommending blogs by experts? It would be nice to be able to read the opinions of people who are actually expert in their fields such as economics, taxes, foreign affairs, politics insiders... One that I particularly like is Thomas Barnett "Dr. Barnett is in high demand within government circles as a forecaster of global conflict and an expert of … [Read more...] about Experts

The face of the worst President in U.S. history? Eric Foner (DeWitt Clinton professor of history at Columbia University), wrote an interesting op-ed for today's Washington Post. The topic: rankings of US Presidents. Who are the worst Presidents in U.S. history and who are the best? In it Foner, prematurely perhaps, deals with the potential legacy of Bush... and it ain't … [Read more...] about The Worst President Ever

Something to think about. My view: either the Imams are fundamentalists who simply enjoying taking a sweep at America and are great admirers of Bin Laden, or they were simply trying to get kicked off. Of course there is a third possibility: plain stupidity. Meanwhile, the AP reports:Airport officials said Friday they will consider setting aside a private area for prayer … [Read more...] about Here We Go

Is it used too much, too hapazardly and too inaccurately? The ever-thoughtful Cathy Young looks at the issue here. What do you think? … [Read more...] about The “N” Word Can Also Mean The “Nazi” Word

Has it been a "car wreck?" One view (from a source that will carry some weight...the editor of a Texas Baptist news publication) is noted and examined HERE. … [Read more...] about The Evangelicals Opposing Barack Obama From Speaking

Keith Ellison, who will become the first Muslim member of Congress next month, has ignited a firestorm in the conservative blogosphere by planning to use the Quran during his ceremonial swearing-in. Dennis Prager, who writes at Townhall.com, is leading the torch-and-pitchfork crowd with angry denunciations against the Minnesota Democrat for using the Muslim holy book instead … [Read more...] about Should Keith Ellison Be Sworn In With the Quran?

Now this is an ironic 'Plan B' (or C):Here's an "or else" scenario from Nawaf Obaid, an adviser to the Saudi government, that actually sounds promising — not a term that usually springs to my mind to describe Saudi scenarios. Contemplating what he would call an unwelcome American withdrawal from Iraq, Mr. Obaid writes that the Saudi government just might fill the breach … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia and Iran to Clash?

From the Boston Globe"...the chiefs of Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler went to Washington to meet with the president and supported a suggestion John Kerry proposed during his presidential campaign: a reinsurance arrangement to pay for chronic or catastrophic healthcare costs, thereby effectively taking those cases out of private health-insurance plans. ...The Plan called … [Read more...] about Health Care Compromise – Reinsurance of catastrophic care

Being critical of Russian President Vladmir Putin can literally be dangerous to your health:Police fear that the murder of a former Kremlin spy may have been part of a double killing plot after a second man was taken to hospital last night with radiation poisoning. The Anti-Terror Group is examining whether the killers of Alexander Litvinenko also tried to poison Mario … [Read more...] about Another Possible Kremlin Critic Poisoned?

THIS JUST IN from investigative reporter David Letterman: … [Read more...] about SeaWorld’s Punishment For Shamu

Say a congrats to my little brother, who just was admitted (early decision) to the engineering school at the University of Virginia! It's no Carleton, but I'm proud of him anyway :-p. And certainly ACC sports can beat up on the MIAC. … [Read more...] about Wahoo!