...and Frist and Hastert have egg on their faces. So much for that new leak investigation. … [Read more...] about Trent Lott spills the beans…

I haven't yet commented on the horrible situation in France, though, privately, I've noted the lack of contextual perspective (that is, a lack of understanding of French history and politics) in much of the right-wing reaction to the riots — as if the right, succumbing to the moral ease of enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend gymnastics, is somehow relishing this apparent … [Read more...] about A state of emergency in France — context and perspective

We've often noted here that weblogs are an incredibly new infotechnology where anyone can publish their own newspaper/magazine/multi-media package at very little cost. But do bloggers including yours truly take advantage of this? We routinely run posts featuring bloggers who do original reporting or interviews. We've done some of that here, but not nearly enough (the latest … [Read more...] about Is The Blogosphere Toothless?

The media verdict is coming in...a verdict that will mutate over the next few days into the conventional wisdom...a verdict that those running for election in 2006 and 2008 will have to analyze so they can possibly adjust their political behavior accordingly: It has not been a great day for the GOP. The Washington Post has a roundup of the latest election results HERE. … [Read more...] about A Bad Night For GOP As Voters Send Angry Message

TMV will be on the road for the next few days, in Montana. His posts will be on this site, although at varying times due to travel and scheduled daily events. He WILL be posting but perhaps not as much as usual. Keep checking back often since our always independent co-bloggers will have some things to say throughout the day. … [Read more...] about TMV On The Road

Okay, no reason to get too excited. The gubernatorial wins in New Jersey and Virginia were expected. Joe will comment further on yesterday's results. I've got more here. … [Read more...] about Democrats win! The-uh-uh-uh-uh Democrats win!

A constitutional ban on gay marriage was approved by 77 percent of voters (with a turnout of just 16 percent of registered voters). Would any Texans out there care to comment? … [Read more...] about Is Texas a bastion of intolerance?

So the Governator gets caught up in a voting irregularity? … [Read more...] about Arnold at the ballot box

Reuters reports what everyone expected: New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been re-elected after New Yorkers finally warmed up to him — and he spent a buck or two:NEW YORK, Nov 8 (Reuters) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was re-elected to a second term on Tuesday in a widely predicted victory after the most costly race in city history, media outlets … [Read more...] about Bloomberg Re-Elected In New York

Reposted from late last night. President George W. Bush had made a last minute campaign appearance to help the GOP candidate in the closely-watched Governor's race in the GOP-leaning state of Virginia but it apparently didn't help the Republican candidate, who is expected to lose, according to the AP. And, in another closely watched state race, the Democrats are ahead in New … [Read more...] about Democrats Win Virginia Governorship And Lead In New Jersey

This post got overtaken quickly by other posts so we're reposting it from yesterday. In the latest polling from The Pew Research Center, President Bush's approval rating has fallen to 36 percent — down four points since late last month. Among Republicans and Independents, the President's numbers are at an all-time low of 77 percent and 29 percent, respectively. (Note … [Read more...] about Libby Indictment Weighs Down Bush Approval

This post got pushed down on our site due to many posts yesterday so we're reposting it today. I have a lot of trouble believing that this is true. But God help us if it is. H/T: Balloon Juice. UPDATE: The Christian Science Monitor asks "Did the US military use chemical weapons in Iraq?" … [Read more...] about US Using Illegal Incendiary Weapons?

NOTE TO READERS: Due to the timeliness of this post, the fact that Jack Grant lives in France, and its in depth nature, we're going to keep this at the top of this site for much of the day. Please SCROLL DOWN to see other, more recent breaking news. As an expatriate in France, I have the dubious privilege of being able to view (from inside the country) the violence while it … [Read more...] about Some thoughts both personal and more general on the riots underway in France

...has taken place in Tennessee and an assistant principal is dead. … [Read more...] about Another School Shooting…

Oxblog's Patrick Belton has this entry from Paris which needs to be read in full. Here's a small part:Paris is burning. It has done so before. Those of 1848 were the street riots of modernism, heralding enlightenment and republicanism versus the restoration of the ancien regime. The soixante-huitards's were those of postmodernity, seeking to resituate the individual and power … [Read more...] about The View From Paris

Saddam Hussein's trial in Baghdad had two monkey wrenches thrown in it today: the murder of yet another lawyer associated with the case and his lawyer's suspension of contact with the tribunal trying him until they get better security — and they're even asking for the trial to be moved abroad to protect all involved. The latest murder makes it clear it's very perilous to … [Read more...] about Saddam’s Lawyers Want Trial Moved Abroad As Another Lawyer Is Shot Dead

Yes, he says it here. (Define "We".) But then, what was going on at Gitmo and Abu Ghraib? What may still be going on there and/or in other U.S.-run detention facilities around the world? THE ONES WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT? Bush: "We're working with Congress to make sure that as we go forward, we make it possible, more possible, to do our job. There's an enemy that lurks and plots … [Read more...] about President Bush: “We do not torture”

This should hardly come as a surprise, but Weekly Standard editor and Fox News-frequenting neocon-Straussian Bill Kristol does not think that President Bush should fire Karl Rove (or, presumably, that Rove should resign). He does, however, think that Bush must remain "a polarizing president". First it was his culture of conservative victimhood, now it's his essentially … [Read more...] about Defending Rove: Bill Kristol’s un-conservative conservatism

Yes, it's the nightmare of reality. … [Read more...] about President Cheney??????????

Greg Prince at Uncorrelated has written a thoughtful and thought-provoking post on whether or not the Constitution 'as is' includes a right to privacy, a response in part to Dan Savage's suggestion at The Stranger that Democrats propose a so-called "Right to Privacy" amendment. It's an interesting idea, and Democrats might do well to go ahead with it (would Republicans or … [Read more...] about Is there a right to privacy in the Constitution?