The Globe and Mail has the breaking news: A motion to extend Canada's mission in Afghanistan narrowly passed in the House of Commons Wednesday night despite a lack of support from the NDP and the Bloc Québécois. The motion, which squeaked through 149-145, called for the support of the House in extending the military mission by two-years, after its current commitment expires … [Read more...] about Canada to stay in Afghanistan

The Pentagon, according to MSNBC, has launched a "probe into the death of Iraqi civilians last November in the Iraqi city of Haditha". Locals claim that "U.S. Marines deliberately killed 15 unarmed Iraqi civilians, including seven women and three children". Unbelievable? Rep. John Murtha, the widely respected veteran and Pennsylvania Democrat who last year called for the … [Read more...] about In cold blood (in Iraq)

Since Joe is apparently still sleeping, I would like to draw your attention to today's George Will column in the Washington Post: Who Isn't A 'Values Voter'? An aggressively annoying new phrase in America's political lexicon is "values voters." It is used proudly by social conservatives, and carelessly by the media to denote such conservatives. This phrase diminishes our … [Read more...] about George Will on So-Called ‘Values Voters’

The Washington Post is reporting this: More than a decade after U.S. troops withdrew from Somalia following a disastrous military intervention, officials of Somalia's interim government and some U.S. analysts of Africa policy say the United States has returned to the African country, secretly supporting secular warlords who have been waging fierce battles against Islamic groups … [Read more...] about Back in Somalia

Ah, the wonders of modern technology. CQPolitics has released a really neat 2006 Election Forecast Map, which takes a look at House, Senate and gubernatorial races for the fall and offers stats, news, and projections for each. If they can keep this updated in a reasonably timely fashion, it will be a very handy tool in a couple months. Check it out. … [Read more...] about Cool Link

Seattle Public Schools are defining emphasis on "individualism" over "collective ideologies" as a form of racism. I'll be the first to say that blind adherence to individuals will result in racist actions being overlooked. But merely "emphasizing" it hardly qualifies as racist in my book. … [Read more...] about Mission Drift

TMV is a bit sick tonight (although, routinely, some readers on both sides find him sickening.) This blog may not be totally updated until tomorrow (TMV needs to jump into bed ASAP). Please keep checking back often since our always talented co-bloggers may have some things to say. Usually this site is dated EST for the next day with some posts that were done late in the day … [Read more...] about There Might Be A Slight Delay (And That Doesn’t Mean Tom)

...for aesthetic reasons rather than those of avarice or necessity that we now hold high. … [Read more...] about Money in the US was once more attractive…

British journalist Steven Poole coins the term in his new book, which I've just posted a review of here. … [Read more...] about What is “Unspeak”?

According to ABC News, "[t]his past April was the hottest ever in the United States, according to records going back to 1895". Make of it what you will. … [Read more...] about Hottest. April. Ever.

At TNR (subscription only), Lee Siegel offers an excellent critique, mostly positive, of HBO's Big Love, my favourite first-run show on TV, and of HBO dramas generally (like Six Feet Under and The Sopranos). Best line: "Once TV looked for the extraordinary in the ordinary. Now TV looks for the ordinary in the extraordinary." Key point: "The question that Bill's wives keep … [Read more...] about The allegorical realism of Big Love

Tom Hanks, left, and French actress Audrey Tautou, center, arrive with director Ron Howard. "The Da Vinci Code" opens the 59th International film festival on Wednesday (May 17). (AP Photo/Francois Mori) The Da Vinci Code movie has raked up much controversy worldwide. In India, Christian and Muslim groups have demanded that the film should be banned. In India, which is home … [Read more...] about Da Vinci Film Storm

Over at The Reaction, co-blogger Creature wonders if "the Bush administration [is] planting stories in the media, the American media, to help shape public opinion on domestic spying". See here. … [Read more...] about Planting spy stories

I haven't yet commented on Bush's well-received immigration address, but, to be fair, immigration is one of the few issues, if not the only issue, where I actually think he's on the right track, more or less, proposing a moderate course that includes both border enforcement and compassion. For now, though, I'll hand the ball to Kevin Drum, who has put it well: "Bush seems to … [Read more...] about Can Bush please anyone on immigration?

The U.S. is set to ban arms sales to Venezuela. Which begs the question: The U.S. has been selling arms to Venezuela?! Okay, okay, I know. The U.S. needs Venezuela's oil. Fine. But arms? Does the U.S. appreciate just what kind of a regime Hugo Chavez has set up for himself in Caracas? And how's this for euphemism of the day: The State Department now lists Venezuela as "a … [Read more...] about Arming Venezuela

Vaughn Ververs at CBS Public Eye writes:Are we watching a story fall apart before our very eyes? Something is certainly going on with that USA Today front-page splash about the secret NSA program to collect and analyze all the phone calls made within the United States. The story, published last week, sparked a fierce debate about privacy and the government’s ability to spy on … [Read more...] about Is The NSA Phone Data Gathering Story Slipping Away? (UPDATED)

Do you know that: * One-third of the water in homes goes on flushing the lavatory - each flush uses about 10 litres (18 pints) * The average bath uses 80 litres; a shower about 35 litres Although these facts appear in today's (May 17th) edition of London's The Independent, these carry a warning for all the countries, including the United States of America. In addition to … [Read more...] about Water Wastage: People of the World Unite!!!

You can hear the music starting now. That menacing cadence. The numbing feeling that something could soon happen. A small move that you see in the corner of your eye that makes your blood run cold. And then it happens: Nancy Pelosi could be Speaker of the House... That's apparently the gist of a GOP effort right now to try and rally the party's faithful. And it's worth noting … [Read more...] about GOPers Find A New Political Horror Star In Pelosi

New White House Press Secretary Tony Snow has begun taking center media stage. And it seems as if the White House press room is going to have a new kind of press secretary for the 21st Century: one who is emerging as a multi-layered personality in his own right. The days of the press secretary as a robot-like human tape recorder or a sweaty, hapless human being oozing unease … [Read more...] about Tony Snow’s New Learning Curve

From investigative reporter Andy Borowitz:BUSH ORDERS NATIONAL GUARD TO PROTECT APPROVAL RATING 10,000 Troops to Prevent Supporters From Leaving Country In a nationally televised address last night, President George W. Bush announced that he would order 10,000 National Guard troops to protect his sagging approval rating. The use of the National Guard to safeguard the … [Read more...] about THIS JUST IN!