Washington Post: A report by the Congressional Research Service... concluded yesterday that the administration's justification for the warrantless eavesdropping authorized by President Bush conflicts with existing law and hinges on weak legal arguments. … [Read more...] about Snoopgate Not Justifiable

According to the AP via the New York Times, someone has been kidnapped and her Iraqi translator has been murdered. … [Read more...] about US Female Journalist Kidnapped in Baghdad

A new AP-Ipsos poll is telegraphing a warning to Republicans in Congress: if elections were held right now the Democrats would be back in control.(AP) In an ominous election-year sign for Republicans, Americans are leaning sharply toward wanting Democrats to take control of Congress, an AP-Ipsos poll finds. Democrats are favored 49 percent to 36 percent. The poll was taken … [Read more...] about AP Poll: Democrats Favored In Congress As GOP Numbers Drop

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) -- A cow that escaped a slaughterhouse dodged vehicles, ran in front of a train, braved the icy Missouri River and took three tranquilizer darts before being recaptured six hours later... … [Read more...] about Another Smart Cow

What questions are "appropriate" for judicial nominees has become a contentious issue throughout the Alito and Roberts hearings. A recent article published in the Yale Law Journal's online supplement argues that we should focus on asking how the nominee would have decided past cases. I provide commentary and analysis back at my own blog. But really interesting stuff. … [Read more...] about The Nomination Question

Cross-Posted To The Debate Link Probably a foolish one, but whatever--and we're on the topic in my Constitutional Law class, so may as well address it now. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution reads, in part, that "No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges and immunities of citizens of the United States." This clause, as far as I understand … [Read more...] about Quick Con Law Question

I have seen or been emailed a LOT of analyses. Here are links to some of them: Charles Krauthammer: A Calamity for Israel (Washington Post) PBS NewsHour: IMPACT OF SHARON'S EXIT FROM ISRAELI POLITICS Union for Reform Judaism Prime Minister Ariel Sharon: A Tribute. Also, A Reform Perspective on the Current Situation & Reform Jewish Leader Condemns Pat Robertson's … [Read more...] about UPDATED: Israel After Sharon

Satire from Andy Borowitz: RETURNED ABRAMOFF DONATIONS ERASE NATIONAL DEBT Lawmakers Scramble To Shed Trillions in Tainted Cash Politicians in Washington hurried today to dump trillions of dollars worth of campaign donations from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, giving the money to the Treasury Department and all but wiping out the national debt.... … [Read more...] about Borowitz Report: Abramoff Shocker

Time Magazine (Hat-Tip AMERICAblog): Washington's power players have always bragged about being well-wired, but for disgraced former congressman Duke Cunningham, "wired" wasn't just a figure of speech. In a week when legislators are focused on the question of who else might be brought down by ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s cooperation with prosecutors as he seeks lenient … [Read more...] about Time: Duke Wore A Wire

The Department of Defense is going to try to develop a new lie detector that could prove useful in military and other operations -- but could mean then end of a lot of political careers if members of the public ever get ahold of it: THE US Department of Defense has revealed plans to develop a lie detector that can be used without the subject knowing they are being assessed. … [Read more...] about New Lie Detector Will End Need For Voluntary Lie Detector Tests

...at Maverick Views a new sometimes-centrist blog. Seriously. It's written by political thinker and attorney Alan Stewart Carl who created the thoughtful The Yellow Line blog, but retired from it due to time constraints. He warns that he may not post as frequently on this one, but he wants to get back into blogging with a fresh start and be less constrained by the term … [Read more...] about Take A Peek…..

Check out this from the Tacoma WA News-Tribune: IRS tracked taxpayers’ political affiliation The News Tribune Published: January 6th, 2006 02:30 AM A Hat-Tip to my friend Ms. Julien! … [Read more...] about Big Brother is Watching Us

Singer Lou Rawls died today due to lung cancer. Another great entertainer departs from the scene. … [Read more...] about Lou Rawls has died

You can read a slew of great weblog posts (and submit your own) by reading the weekly non-partisan Carnival of the Vanities. … [Read more...] about A Medley Of Great Weblog Posts

Haaretz: His brain is bleeding again and the prognosis is not good. UPDATE from Jerusalem Post: The 3-hour surgery is complete and he's been taken for another CAT scan. UPDATE from BBC News: Doctors treating Israeli PM Ariel Sharon say he has made a marked improvement after more brain surgery but remains in a critical condition. UPDATE from Haaretz: Pressure on Sharon's … [Read more...] about UPDATE: Sharon Out of Surgery, Better

Is he "baaack" — or is he now on his way out? Just as Arnold Schwarzenegger smoothly made the change from body builder to movie star.....just as he seamlessly moved from the world of Hollywood to the world of Sacramento....California's Governor has now executed a MAJOR shift. Will it prove to be an artful shift — or will it be perceived as clumsy and backfire? He … [Read more...] about Schwarzenegger Casts Himself In New Political Role

NOTE: Co-blogger Jack Grant posted this highly original and thoughtful piece on this site yesterday. We are running it again, high up in today's postings, to ensure it gets maximum readership. Please keep scrolling since newer posts are below this one. This post is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to ALL (those who might agree or disagree with Jack). Cross-posted to Random Fate. --- A … [Read more...] about Fear, necessity, freedom, despair, and hope

Thanks again to readers for being so patient with TMV....but we know due to all of the great posts by the co-bloggers he wasn't missed. TMV remains on a trip which means his posts are again limited today. That's due to very long drives, a hectic schedule away from his computer and some problems in posting. A hint to bloggers: Starbucks is a GREAT place to write; their … [Read more...] about Once Again: Lighter Posts From TMV Himself

John at AMERICAblog was watching CNN earlier this evening and saw them speak to whether Christiane Amanpour or other CNN journalists have been wiretapped. He wasn't satisfied with their explanation. … [Read more...] about CNN Speaks!

Wouldn't this be neat? I sure wouldn't mind my very own warp drive. H/Ts: Bainbridge & Reynolds, LLP. … [Read more...] about To Infinity…AND BEYOND!