Democrats who think it's going to be enough to simply be the anti-Bush or go on the assumption that President George W. Bush's poll numbers will remain low might think again: Amid a relentless and detailed political makeover, George Bush's political numbers continue to go UP:WASHINGTON — President Bush's job approval rating, on a long slide since his re-election last year, … [Read more...] about Bush Poll Numbers Continue Rising Amid Political Makeover

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday denied clemency to Crips street gang founder Stanley Tookie Williams, who is now scheduled to die tonight at the hands of the people of California. I am opposed to the death penalty in all cases and I am tempted to criticize Schwarzenegger for refusing to do what seems to be the right thing. Yet I must agree with Ann Althouse on this, at … [Read more...] about Schwarzenegger denies clemency to Tookie Williams

Hurricane Katrina devastated many lives and aspects of routine lives along the Gulf Coast when it wreaked its destruction this summer. And it absolutely DECIMATED Mississippi coast libraries. Libraries are a gathering place, a vital spot for youths, places where knowledge is spread and culture is perpetuated...and they need your help. Read The Kudzu Files HERE to find out … [Read more...] about Another Big Hurricane Victim: Mississippi Libraries

Eugene Volokh wrote a post today slamming a prominent Atheist leader for rather naked anti-Semitism. Then, he did something all too rare. He made sure to stand up for atheists in general, and the prejudice they face in America today as a matter-of-course. I comment further over at The Debate Link. … [Read more...] about The Right Way To Condemn

BBC: A strong earthquake has hit north-eastern Afghanistan, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has said. The tremor of 6.7 magnitude struck the mountainous Hindu Kush region bordering Pakistan early on Tuesday, it said.... … [Read more...] about Afghanistan hit by strong quake

Remember that Saudi donation that Rudy Giuliani turned down? The same source has decided to donate $20 million each to Georgetown and Harvard universities. According to the Washington Post: A prominent Saudi businessman said yesterday that he is donating $20 million each to Georgetown and Harvard universities for the study of Islam and the Muslim world as part of his … [Read more...] about Harvard and Georgetown to Become Saudi Havens?

Hey, here's an idea for all our readers on the right, left, and middle: if your elderly father disagrees with you politically, then suggest he's senile:"Fox News Sunday" anchorman Chris Wallace says father Mike Wallace has "lost it" - after the legendary CBS newsman told the Boston Globe last week that the fact George Bush had been elected president shows America is … [Read more...] about A Glimpse Of A Newsman’s Soul?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10355657/">No clemency: Ex-Crips' leader to be executed California Gov. Schwarzenegger rejects Stanley Tookie Williams' request UPDATE: CNN Breaking News (9:40 pm) -- U.S. Supreme Court refuses to stay the execution of killer and Crips gang founder Stanley Tookie Williams. … [Read more...] about MSNBC: No Reprieve for Tookie Williams

From the Latin America desk: This is the new Chile — the Chile of democracy and free elections, not the Chile of CIA-supported dictatorship, of Pinochet and Missing. Center-left candidate Michelle Bachelet, who leads the Concertacion bloc, which has been in power since the end of the Pinochet dictatorship in 1990, won 45.8 percent of the vote in the first round of … [Read more...] about Chile set for run-off presidential election

I posted below and at my own weblog Random Fate on a case of abuse of eminent domain in Florida, and I commented on how the governmental system in the United States is beginning to resemble that of China when it comes to property rights. From CNN.com, here is an illustration of the state of affairs in that country: Government banners hung at the village entrance said, … [Read more...] about A brief follow-up on land seizures by government for the profit of others

Yet another Sign of the Apocalypse is Heidi Fleiss's plan for an all-male bordello (for women only) in Nevada. Isn't it great that she's back in the news? … [Read more...] about Heidi’s Stud Farm

A must-read in Newsweek: "Bush in the Bubble" by Evan Thomas and Michael Wolffe. (I've got some reaction here.) … [Read more...] about Bush the Bubble Boy

A couple of days ago, I mentioned an upcoming piece in The New York Times by Michael Crowley on the power and influence of the conservative blogosphere. My initial post, with a link to an interesting take by Atrios, is here. Crowley's (rather short) piece is here. Here's some of what Crowley has to say: "Liberals use the Web to air ideas and vent grievances with one another, … [Read more...] about The nature of the conservative blogosphere

According to The New York Times, Mel "Lethal Weapon" Gibson "has a new project under way: a nonfiction miniseries about the Holocaust". Does anybody else see a problem with this? … [Read more...] about Mel Gibson and the Holocaust

As many may have noticed, my posting has been virtually non-existent over the past 10 days. This is due to a recent career change, joining a small company helping in the recovery effort in New Orleans. As a result, I have been in New Orleans for the past 7 days working in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). This experience has been life changing. Those of you who have never … [Read more...] about Life change and New Orleans – a tale of two cities in recovery

She's been there before, but Mariah "Mimi" Carey is my Sign of the Apocalypse #26. Is there a reason? Do I need one? Okay, how about those eight Grammy nominations? … [Read more...] about Mariah Carey’s Grammy groundswell

From the New York Times: SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — In one of Australia's worst outbursts of racial violence, thousands of drunken white youths attacked police and people they believed were of Arab descent at a Sydney beach, angered by reports that Lebanese youths had assaulted two lifeguards. Young men of Arab descent retaliated in several Sydney suburbs, fighting with … [Read more...] about UPDATED: Race Riots in Australia

Via Boudicca's Voice comes a reference to how the system of government in the United States is beginning to resemble that of China in terms of ignoring property rights in favor of what is "best for the community." From Ogre's Politics & Views: What a damn nightmare. As many as 6,000 people may become homeless, directly because of direct government action. Why? So some … [Read more...] about Chipping away at our liberties, in the name of “what is best for the community”

Is it just US? Or do others (of both parties) find Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist as being a curious combination of the sincerity of Uriah Heep and the less lovable aspects of Republican Richard Nixon and Democrat Al Gore? We read stories like this and (a) shudder, (b) realize that any strategy he embraces is likely to be the worst one possible, one that will boomerang on … [Read more...] about Frist Is Ready To Use Nuclear Option To Confirm Alito

If you get a lemon, make lemonade. If you get worm crap, make fertilizer:TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) — Tom Szaky is wearing what he calls his "greed hat," turning worm excrement into profit. The 23-year-old Princeton dropout set out to be a smart entrepreneur, not an environmental hero. His growing business is built on organic fertilizer made from worm feces, then bottled … [Read more...] about A Crappy Story