All I have to say is Go Saul Arellano! … [Read more...] about What About The Seven Year Old?

Whether or not the US should begin withdrawing from Iraq is a difficult question. But, should the Democratic Congress support that policy, it would be difficult to argue they don't have a mandate for it. … [Read more...] about A Mandate to Withdraw?

As you all might have noticed, I am quite addicted to reading. As such I try to read two or three 'extra' books per week (extra as in not required reading material for my study). Anyway, I am wondering whether you all have any suggestions for good and interesting books (for me to read): works of fiction, (auto)biographies, poetry, books about / related to politics... all … [Read more...] about Books, Books, Books

Kinda. … [Read more...] about Objective Reporting

The Godmother of the Democratic party? It seems that Nancy Pelosi calls the shots: House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will ensure that Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) wins his race for majority leader, a key Murtha ally said Monday night. "She will ensure that they [the Murtha camp] win. This is hard-ball politics," said Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), a longtime Murtha supporter. … [Read more...] about Pelosi Calls the Shots

(For my comments on the GOP leadership, see here.) In a recent post, I argued that with respect to Iraq Democrats would be unwise to pursue a formal policy of redeployment, or phased withdrawal, largely for political reasons looking ahead to '08. And now I find that Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi has expressed support for Jack Murtha's candidacy to be the next House majority … [Read more...] about Pelosi promotes Murtha

Two interesting articles about Iran: Traces of highly enriched uranium found in a nuclear waste facility in Iran and, according to the Telegraph Iran is working on taking over Al Qaeda. From the first article I link to above:International Atomic Energy experts have found unexplained plutonium and highly enriched uranium traces in a nuclear waste facility in Iran and have … [Read more...] about The Iranian Threat Growing

Jan Marijnissen: the leader of the SP Pajamas Media blogger Peter Dorsman provides a valuable update about the Dutch elections at his own blog: Peaktalk. One of the main subjects of this post: the surprising success (at least in the polls) of the Socialist Party. … [Read more...] about Dutch Elections Update

Over at The Reaction, Heraclitus offers up some "smart-assery on gender differences" that I think you might find amusing, if not a little provocative. He doesn't argue against the existence of gender differences, just against "intellectually lazy and dishonest attempts" to prove their existence. See here. … [Read more...] about Arguing gender differences

According to Reuters, "Democrats... said on Sunday they will push for a phased withdrawal of American troops from Iraq to begin in four to six months". By "Democrats," however, Reuters means not the party as a whole but only Senators Levin, Reid, and Biden, all of whom appeared on the Sunday talk-show circuit to push for a change in Iraq policy. And the Reuters article is even … [Read more...] about The Democrats’ dangerous Iraq policy

You know, I was never one of Lieberman's more vehement critics. Even after he cozied up to Bush after 9/11 (and then on Iraq), I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. And I didn't take sides in the Lamont-Lieberman primary race. But then he lost, badly, ran as an independent, and turned on his fellow Democrats. And I turned on him, for good. But, of course, he won … [Read more...] about This is why I dislike Joe Lieberman

The AP is reporting that America's (most overrated) mayor is set to launch his long-awaited and much-anticipated campaign for president: "The former mayor filed papers to create the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Exploratory Committee, Inc., establishing a New York-based panel that would allow him to raise money to explore a White House run and travel the country." On the right … [Read more...] about Giuliani eyes the top prize

Shaun Mullen writes on his great site Kiko's House about how Philadelphia's two once-great newspapers are now appear as if they are dying a slow but very public death since the now defunct Knight Ridder chain sold them to an investment group. This is a MUST READ because Mullen, who covered the O.J. Simpson trial, the Clinton impeachment, Vietnam and was also a top editor, … [Read more...] about The Big City Newspaper Death Spiral Continues

Was it a good idea? It probably lost the Senate for the GOP. … [Read more...] about George Bush’s Campaigning For Republican Candidates For Senate

Leon Panetta remains one of the most respected members of the Democratic party. He's a former Democratic representative, former director of the office of management and budget, and former White House chief of staff. former White House Chief of staff. Today he's sometimes seen at the nonprofit Panetta Institute, which he founded and directs with and his wife Sylvia at at … [Read more...] about Leon Panetta To Democrats: “Govern Don’t Gloat”

But in 2006 was Rush replaced by this guy? (A MUST READ) … [Read more...] about Once Upon A Time Rush Limbaugh Was A “Kingmaker”

And Ed Morrissey (whose conservative blog understandably gets many readers of all political persuasions) says it's an "underwhelming choice." … [Read more...] about The Republicans Pick A New RNC Chairman

This interview. … [Read more...] about Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm #2

Just file this one in the You've Got To Be Kidding file:A Republican-led legislative panel claims in a new report on illegal immigration that abortion is partly to blame because it is causing a shortage of American workers. The report from the state House Special Committee on Immigration Reform also claims "liberal social welfare policies" have discouraged Americans from … [Read more...] about Missouri Republican Panel Links Abortion To Illegal Immigration

Russ Feingold withdraws The Journal Sentinel reports that the hero of the far left, Russ Feingold, has decided that he will not run for President in 08. Obviously this is quite big news for some, especially for the so-called netroots, but for just about every other person, this can hardly be a surprise. If there is one prominent Democrat who stands absolutely no chance of … [Read more...] about Non Contender Feingold Decides Not to Run for President