tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85240992011-04-21T13:52:27.902-04:00Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.comBlogger901100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-90879561290635739652007-02-19T13:57:00.000-05:002007-02-19T14:03:16.885-05:00

A recent Byron York article has me wondering about something. Would the CIA reveal the name of an agent who was covered or protected the way that many have suggested Valerie Plame Wilson was? If her status was such that revealing her identity would put her life, and potentialy other lives, at risk is it really CIA policy to give the The White House the true identity of such a person if they ask?

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1162415357098089682006-11-01T16:07:00.000-05:002006-11-01T16:09:17.110-05:00

"You know, education, if you make the most of it, and you study hard and you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq." I have to say that the best case I have heard in the mainstream media that Kerry made a simple gaffe and should essentially be given a pass was made by talk radio host Ed Schultz. He points to the pause and

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1152730009390514022006-07-12T14:42:00.000-04:002006-07-12T14:46:49.433-04:00

Dean Esmay, preceded by his wife, posts that Robert Novak identified the Plame leaker as none other than her husband Joe Wilson. After reading the links, I thought I was missing something. I read on until I got to Novak’s column. I have to disagree with Dean, Rosemary, and her source Protein Wisdom. Not only does Novak not identify his primary source, but he gives hints that point directly

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1148484787491397112006-05-24T11:30:00.000-04:002006-05-24T11:33:07.526-04:00

There is only one thing I can think when I read this article. The AP misses the point of the agreement between Ds and Rs. The headline should be "Democrats and Republicans united unde rthe idea that Congressmen should be allowed to be Corrupt."

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1145389612778980472006-04-18T15:44:00.000-04:002006-04-18T15:46:53.443-04:00

I called HP technical support today. They could not help me because their computers were down.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1139974989476331362006-02-14T22:40:00.000-05:002006-02-14T22:43:09.486-05:00

I have been told that one of the most important components of intelligence is an ability to accurately gauge one’s own abilities and talents. As such, I’d like to confess that I would, if ever called upon, be the worst press secretary in the history of The White House. I’m certain that I could have made it through about twenty minutes of the same question being asked in every conceivable way

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1139872242936886352006-02-13T18:04:00.000-05:002006-02-13T18:10:42.946-05:00

Now that the XXth Olympic Winter Games have begun, I only have one thing to say.Team America, F*** Yeah!OK, maybe one more thing. Curling rocks! Good luck to Teams Johnson and Fenson.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1139510887736907752006-02-09T13:43:00.000-05:002006-02-09T13:48:07.750-05:00

I'm not going to touch on whether Jimmy Carter and Rev. Lowery's remarks at Mrs. King's funeral this week were appropriate or not. It hardly seems worth talking about since no one has changed their opinion on political funerals since the Wellstone funeral.One thing, though, is entirely clear. Any chill that Andy Dufrane once thought he felt has turned into a pleasent sunny first amendment day

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1137091473250815572006-01-12T13:42:00.000-05:002006-01-12T13:44:33.260-05:00

I don't know about you, but I'm particularly glad that the Democrats haven't let the opportunity to discuss Constitutional issues with Judge Alito keep them from assuring the news cycle focus stays on the NSA "spying" scandal.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1134099985708972712005-12-08T22:32:00.000-05:002005-12-08T22:46:25.720-05:00

Its too early to say yet whether the runway length at Midway was sufficient to land a 737 in today's conditions. This pdf gives you lending runway lengths for all 737 models, starting at about page 189/190. Without the exact weight of the plane at time of landing it is impossible to accurately calculate the length of runway needed, even if the pilot hit the numbers (landed at the very

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1134014904058516152005-12-07T23:07:00.000-05:002005-12-07T23:08:24.070-05:00

It would appear that either someone plugged into the VRWC (Vast Right Wing Conspiracy) or, more likely, someone in the media has decided that this year we needed a good old fashioned controversy over “Happy Holidays” v. “Merry Christmas.” When I opened the Presidential Christmas Card I was surprised to see that the Presidential pets rate high enough for face time on the card. Apparently

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1133412903301089832005-11-30T23:23:00.000-05:002005-11-30T23:55:03.353-05:00

George, Today’s speech was horrible. I’m sure no one in the White House will tell you that, but it was. You might as well have dropped in a DVD and projected yourself delivering any number of speeches you’ve already given onto a giant screen. The reaction of the media and the audience would have been the same. Rallying the troops to the cause we are fighting for is totally unneeded.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1133293580301800662005-11-29T14:30:00.000-05:002005-11-29T14:46:20.366-05:00

During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend I saw, for the first time, the CBS show Without a Trace. Perhaps I'm being a bit rash, but my overall impression is tha the name of the show needs to be changed immediately. It would be more accurately characterized as "With More Than Enough Evidence to Solve in One TV Hour" perhaps the sub-title "And More Predictable Than Law & Order" would not help the

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1132203375240809082005-11-16T23:54:00.000-05:002005-11-16T23:56:15.256-05:00

Writing about some non-story concerning George Bush isolating himself in light of recent political troubles, namely Plame and Iraqi War fallout, Matt Yglesias points to a Bill Kristol piece on this week’s Senate vote demanding quarterly updates on progress. Certain Democrats/progressive that I have read, including Yglesias, and heard, on Air America, seem to think this is somehow the GOP losing

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1132001305811570732005-11-14T15:46:00.000-05:002005-11-14T15:48:25.826-05:00

As an organized religion, Islam is approximately 600 years behind Christianity. If we roll back our clocks 600 years it may be informative to see where Christianity was at the time. Around 1400, the Roman Catholic Church, was deeply divided by a schism that resulted in the establishment of a second papacy in Avignon, France. If today were 1405 instead of 2005, we would be nearly 70 years away

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1129773580704739172005-10-19T21:58:00.000-04:002005-10-19T21:59:40.710-04:00

Have you heard that a company larger than Delta Airlines recently filed for bankruptcy protection? I’m not surprised. It is receiving surprisingly little coverage for as momentous an event as it is. Read about it here. The bankruptcy filing came a week after Phillip R. Bennett, Refco's president and chief executive, was arrested and charged with hiding $430 million in debt owed to Refco in

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1129046159583084842005-10-11T11:52:00.000-04:002005-10-11T11:55:59.836-04:00

Enough already, anyone with a brain got this story onwe of the first few times the MSM tried pushing it on us. Chickens get the flu and some know-it-alls in the media are certain that people are going to get the same flu and it will kill us all.For a group that collectively would shun the rapture-ists into oblivion, it looks like they have found their own rapture ready to go. Just remember, we

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1127780253711468312005-09-26T20:17:00.000-04:002005-09-26T20:17:33.720-04:00

It is apparently all the rage, again, to report on “no bid” contracts and to say “no bid” and “Bush” in close proximity as many times as possible. Under a time of status quo, any normal, thinking American would prefer an open bid process. However, we have encountered a national problem that needs a solution. So, let’s define that problem in decidedly non-political language. We experienced

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1126744303272723742005-09-14T20:31:00.000-04:002005-09-14T20:31:43.280-04:00

Watching the John Roberts confirmation hearings the past two days has been fairly amusing, especially for a political junkie like me. The proceedings have the distinct look of the Senate Judiciary Committee testifying before Robert. The Republicans are barely able to get in an interrogative sentence between all their effusive praise, and Democrats, after day one, are hardly any better. My

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1125695759697035752005-09-02T17:02:00.000-04:002005-09-02T17:15:59.703-04:00

"Leaders need to be optimists. Their vision is beyond the present." Rudy GiulianiI said, "I need everything." Now, I will tell you this -- and I give the president some credit on this -- he sent one John Wayne dude down here that can get some stuff done, and his name is [Lt.] Gen. [Russel] Honore. And he came off the doggone chopper, and he started

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1125357052031216982005-08-29T19:10:00.000-04:002005-08-29T19:13:26.806-04:00

There is at least one story that Hurricane Katrina has barred from entering the national stage. Since Katrina is likely to hold onto the attention of mainstream national media outlets for the next day or two, this other story is likely never to make it beyond the local news market of Cincinnati, OH. Since approximately 6:30pm EDT yesterday, a rail car has been spewing gas into the atmosphere;

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1121576712950509982005-07-17T01:04:00.000-04:002005-07-17T01:05:12.956-04:00

With Jack Nicklaus having departed both the Open Championship at St. Andrews and Scotland itself aboard Air Bear One all headlines focus on Tiger Woods. The headline you won’t read, but all golf fans are thinking is: Monty Well Positioned for Collapse Colin Montgomerie is in contention for the one major championship in golf that means more to him than any other. The revered Scot whose

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1121438692631648082005-07-15T10:44:00.000-04:002005-07-15T10:44:52.640-04:00

I got a great laugh this morning when I read this. I cannot wait to start to see the Democrat reaction to the revelation that it was Bob Novak who told Karl Rove about Valerie Plame. It must really be a letdown to Democrats that Rove is not the evil mastermind who revealed what Andrea Mitchell termed “an open secret” So where will the goalposts be moved to now? I suspect that we will

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1121117651952316012005-07-11T17:27:00.000-04:002005-07-11T17:34:11.960-04:00

The cover story for this weekend's NY Times Magazine was a wonderfully fluffy and flattering portrait of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. I think there was only one noteworthy tidbit of information in the entire article.Then Asma al-Assad climbed into the passenger's seat, Bashar al-Assad slipped behind the wheel, and they drove off alone into the jostling traffic and the balmy Damascus

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1120926467034972132005-07-09T12:26:00.000-04:002005-07-09T12:27:47.043-04:00

Dean Esmay has an interesting thread (as usual) running about a comment that President Bush made regarding agricultural subsidies before the recent G-8 Summit. I join the prevailing sentiment among commenters on the thread that this would be a great thing, but we’ll remain skeptical of it actually happening. The wrappings of “save Africa” are not going to get the job done, though. Sure,

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1120783051962909182005-07-07T20:36:00.000-04:002005-07-07T20:37:31.970-04:00

Today was another day of the new reality, a day when that segment of the Islamic population that wishes to reign down death and mayhem upon the West were successful in launching an attack upon us. I’ve had a feeling about our terrorist foes for a while now, a feeling that was affirmed today with their attacks on the residents of London. At the very heart of the matter, they do not understand

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1120673784113490822005-07-06T14:15:00.000-04:002005-07-06T14:17:04.273-04:00

Dedicated Steelers Fan

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1120521568674171972005-07-04T19:52:00.000-04:002005-07-04T19:59:28.680-04:00

As we celebrate the 218th anniversary of our Declaration of 1776 let us keep in mind all of those people fighting to establish their own independence today. People create and define their own independence and we should always stand with those taking their first uneasy steps into the world of democratic self rule.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1119883398495503072005-06-27T10:39:00.000-04:002005-06-27T10:43:18.500-04:00

It comes as no surprise to me at all that Dennis Rader is currently peading guilty to 10 counts of murder, as I indicated in the original post on this. I suspect that Dennis Rader will be a very willing and helpful prisoner in many future investigations, as Ted Bundy was.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1118774964549062392005-06-14T14:48:00.000-04:002005-06-14T14:49:24.556-04:00

We now have a second “Downing Street Memo” (original) that is certain to stir up the calls from the left side of the Democrat party to investigate and impeach. With respect to this second memo, I think it holds even less value than the first, which is to say not much at all. I think that journalist/blogger Marc Cooper has it about right. Essentially the new memo says that if war with Iraq was

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1118370948015724682005-06-09T22:34:00.000-04:002005-06-09T22:35:48.026-04:00

There is a great article in the Wall Street Journal today on the current state of the euro (subscription required) and the EU. The article ends with the following nugget from Banc of America Capital Management’s chief market strategist Joseph Quinlan. The French and Dutch no votes "reinforce the view that Europe is a dithering dysfunctional family, unwilling and unable to make tough

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1118349150259184062005-06-09T16:31:00.000-04:002005-06-09T16:32:30.273-04:00

President Bush is stumping today for the renewal of The Patriot Act and for making it permanent. The sound bite that I have been hearing all day on radio news is: "My message to Congress is clear: Terrorist threats against us will not expire at the end of the year and neither should the protections of the Patriot Act," Bush told more than 100 law enforcement officers. The Bush

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1118269177560270382005-06-08T18:18:00.000-04:002005-06-08T18:19:37.570-04:00

Conventional wisdom among many Democrats during the past election cycle was that Republicans were never serious about having wanted, and I mean REALLY WANTED, to have been able to run against Howard Dean. This DailyKOS post spells out why the right was wrong to underestimate Doctor Howard way back in 1/2004 back when it was a sure-thing that Dean was getting the nomination. After reading this

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1115140664266269242005-05-03T13:17:00.000-04:002005-05-03T13:17:44.266-04:00

This doesn’t surprise me at all. “Rader chose to stand mute during the brief arraignment…”

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1113538675203495342005-04-15T00:16:00.000-04:002005-04-15T00:17:55.210-04:00

I’ve been holding this post since before the death of Pope John Paul II. News from this week has finally provided the right angle to complete the thought. During the media frenzy leading up to the passing of Pope John Paul II… No shortage of print, radio and television media time and effort had been spent detailing the extent of the Pope’s influence within Poland. As best I can tell Karol

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1111555256264225282005-03-23T00:20:00.000-05:002005-03-23T00:20:56.266-05:00

I suspect that in retrospect the life and death of Terri Schiavo will be seen as a focal point of several issues key to our republican democracy. With hope, I believe that the most important issue to spring forth from this macabre spectacle will be a debate about the state of the 10th Amendment to our Constitution. The separation of powers between the US Congress and the several States is an

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1110219450578252742005-03-07T13:15:00.000-05:002005-03-07T13:17:30.590-05:00

The EU wants to sell weapons to China. It is also true that China wants very much to buy weapons from the EU. China is signaling very strongly that they are the catalyst for this situation. Having raised their military budget, China is telling the world they have cash and are looking for sellers. Of course, their options are pretty much limited to the EU. President Bush is not likely to sell

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1109610380329413442005-02-28T12:01:00.000-05:002005-02-28T12:54:54.610-05:00

It will eventually become difficult for even the most ardent George W. Bush hater to deny that US actions in the Middle East have done quite a lot to break a decades long stalemate and that that shake-up looks very much like a giant infusion of democracy.Update: link to Reuters articleUpdate: Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt:"It's strange for me to say it, but this process of change has

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1108440717224281482005-02-14T23:11:00.000-05:002005-02-14T23:42:16.223-05:00

Cable talk shows continue their coverage of the blogosphere and the Eason Jordan story. In particular MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough tonight invited Hugh Hewitt, Radley Balko, Ana Marie Cox, and Bill Press to discuss the issues at play. Bill Press led off the discussion and immediately tried to establish his blogging street cred by point out that he is, in fact, a blogger. However, he immediately

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1108320802160115272005-02-13T13:51:00.000-05:002005-02-13T13:53:22.166-05:00

Washington and the Blogosphere alike are abuzz with the topic of Social Security Reform. (here here here here) One of the most helpful things bloggers and comment posters can do is to brush up on their history of Social Security. Both blind faith in the President’s position and blind bashing of it as destroying or disrespecting the history of Social Security serve to benefit no person or

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1107544737448483612005-02-04T14:12:00.000-05:002005-02-04T14:18:57.446-05:00

Fortune contributor Shawn Tully was on MSNBC last night. He made a statement about Social Security that I cannot find confirmation for via Google. However, if it is accurate it is an amazingly insightful angle into the question of whether there is a Social Secuirty crisis. His statement, paraphrased, is: To bring Social Security into ERISA compliance today the US government would have to

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1107455035052765922005-02-03T13:23:00.000-05:002005-02-03T13:23:55.053-05:00

Normally I find Christopher Hitchens to be an enjoyable and insightful essayist who finds an interesting perspective that is neither patently right nor left. In his latest piece, “Beating a Dead Parrot,” Hitchens typically finds that centrist position yet fails the test on interesting and insightful. Making the case that Iraq is for Bush what Vietnam was for Johnson is a difficult or

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1107121635264326492005-01-30T16:43:00.000-05:002005-02-04T14:19:55.596-05:00

Now that the Iraqi people have spoken loudly, and in the face of very real physical danger, where willl the American left move the goal posts? Is the new point of utter failure the Iraqi Constitution or some other arbitrary milemarker? Democracy, it appears, is a hit in Iraq. If only Iraqi democracy where a hit with ALL Americans.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1106716534717785342005-01-26T01:11:00.000-05:002005-01-26T00:15:34.716-05:00

For the first time in a long while, at least since the November elections, I tuned into the primetime cable news shows. I was greeted by the oh-so important issue of Oscar nominations. Of course, the “snubbing” of The Passion of The Christ and Fahrenheit 9/11 just cries out for the justice of major media coverage. After all, there aren’t more important things to talk about. These

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1106577582831643622005-01-24T09:39:00.000-05:002005-01-24T09:39:42.830-05:00

Forbes is running a series of 12 stories entitled “The Where of Happiness.” Not an overly surprising list of places.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1105559231377340922005-01-12T11:24:00.000-05:002005-01-12T14:47:11.376-05:00

There are a number of ways you can look at this NY Times story about the underwater collision of the US submarine San Francisco. The first and most easily accessible way into the story is the sheer empathy one has for the family of the seaman killed in the accident. While this is certainly a story of tremendous personal tragedy, it is also quite impressively not a story about national

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1105127430879897362005-01-07T14:50:00.000-05:002005-01-07T14:50:30.880-05:00

Click Here, just do it.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1104962430431740762005-01-05T17:00:00.000-05:002005-01-05T17:00:30.430-05:00

I have only one prediction for 2005. A new use for camera phones is going to emerge; solving petty crimes. That’s right. As more and more migrate to these devices people are going to discover that they can snap a picture of someone doing something malicious.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1104886815681170622005-01-04T19:59:00.000-05:002005-01-04T20:00:15.680-05:00

I’m sure there is a way somehow that this can be spun as bad, but all I can say is, WOW! For those who do not know, Michael Schumacher is the 2nd highest earning athlete on the planet, trailing Tiger Woods by just a whisker at about $80 million per year.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1103056860636287872004-12-14T15:39:00.000-05:002004-12-14T15:41:00.636-05:00

The big tech news of the day is the Google has announced that they are scanning the contents of several libraries and making them available on the web. Wired has a nice piece here. Jeff Jarvis at BuzzMachine has some other suggestions as do his commenters. One more: There is rather unique collection of information that unfortunately, is going the opposite direction of the efforts by

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1102547790497521102004-12-08T18:15:00.000-05:002004-12-08T18:16:30.496-05:00

Democrats calling for Annan’s Head: (Via Instapundit) It seems as if everyone is talking about Kofi Annan and the need to replace the head of the UN for the mismanagement and/or malfeasance associated with the Oil-for-Food scandal. No one is talking about the fact that Saddam was aided by no less than 3 permanent members of the Security Council. That placing “leaders” from smaller

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1102523515287747632004-12-08T11:31:00.000-05:002004-12-08T11:31:55.286-05:00

· Considering how Iraq has gone so far, do you still think that American military power is a good way to promote tolerance and democracy in the Middle East? Has your position on this changed in any way over the past two years? I would never use the word “tolerance” as an ideal any military promotes. That is not the job of a military. It may a goal of a “provisional authority,” but not a

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1102444518219591382004-12-07T13:30:00.000-05:002004-12-07T13:35:18.220-05:00

Via The Right Coast (Via Instapundit) Eugene Volokh writes about what should and should not be protected under journalistic “confidentiality.” The editorial brings to mind an interesting disconnect between journalism and the professions Volokh mentions that enjoy confidentiality, namely lawyers and doctors. The other professions mentioned require professional certifications. Passing the

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1102171659925558742004-12-04T09:44:00.000-05:002004-12-04T09:47:39.926-05:00

It should surprise noone that Microsoft is censoring bloggers, and bloggers and trying to circumvent it. Rumor has it that your entire blog is erased if you attempt to submit "Microsoft sucks."

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1102031098368419262004-12-02T18:44:00.000-05:002004-12-02T18:44:58.366-05:00

It is interesting that in a time when Donald Trump’s casino business is fully engaged in bankruptcy proceedings that he has actually found something better than a slot machine for making money. First there was the trademarked catch phrase, “You’re fired” followed once per season by the less than creative foil, “You’re hired.” Then, of course, there is all the merchandizing. Finally, if that

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1102003209799119162004-12-02T10:58:00.000-05:002004-12-02T11:00:09.800-05:00

From the lead editorial in the New York Times yesterday, we have this about the appalling conditions in Guantánamo: The Red Cross did say fearful Guantánamo prisoners complained less frequently in 2004 than in 2003 about female interrogators who exposed their breasts, kissed prisoners, touched them sexually and showed them pornography. But it's hard to see that as progress. If the

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1101959026163789762004-12-01T22:42:00.000-05:002004-12-01T22:43:46.163-05:00

Can pajamahadeen be far behind?

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1101913501508377812004-12-01T10:04:00.000-05:002004-12-01T10:05:01.510-05:00

The promise of a miracle drug is always just around the bend in modern medicine. As such, we would be remiss to overlook Acomplia / Rimonabant, from Sanofi-Aventis (SNY). The drug has been getting quite a bit of good press in the past month or so. Including articles such as this, this and this. (Via. Rimonabant blogger) I expect to hear a lot more about this drug over the next year. It

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1101754112327095312004-11-29T13:47:00.000-05:002004-11-29T13:48:32.326-05:00

If the MSM are to be believed (yes, I know, but stick with me here) the Red and the Blue states are more divided than we have been in a very long time, so long, in fact, that the appropriate quasi-humorous thing to do is to draw up a cartoon reflecting the isolation that blue states feel from red states, or as they’ve taken to calling them, Jesusland. Yet, US Presidential elections have gone

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1101315011427473242004-11-24T11:49:00.000-05:002004-11-24T16:42:40.986-05:00

In the November/December issue of Foreign Policy, Christopher Hitchens pens a critique of Colin Powell’s tenure as Secretary of State. Hitchens’ criticisms, interestingly, are not dissimilar to what he had to say when Powell was first nominated. Perhaps his most valid criticism of Powell’s tenure is: The official historian of the State Department has calculated that Powell will have

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1101246147200951732004-11-23T16:41:00.000-05:002004-11-23T17:03:00.583-05:00

I cannot help but wonder if today’s announcement by CBS that Dan Rather is stepping down isn’t the result of negotiations between CBS and the “independent” (wink, wink) investigation. By getting Rather off the table, CBS (in its own eyes) looks proactive and can argue that the difficult decisions have been made and that other recommendations need not be made. If they are actually negotiating

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1101158696821125682004-11-22T16:23:00.000-05:002004-11-22T16:25:24.650-05:00

Mark Cuban has some thoughts on the fight this weekend between Detroit Piston's fans and NBA players from the Indiana Pacers. As usual, he is a contrarian.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1101154626209415152004-11-22T15:15:00.000-05:002004-11-22T15:25:12.810-05:00

The focus of reporting concerning the appointment of Sen. Arlen Specter to the Chairmanship of the Senate Judicial Committee has focused solely on a single issue, abortion. What is getting overlooked is that Specter is also a little to tight with the trial lawyers lobby as well. Read here. Specter’s influence on tort reform is perhaps even more important to the GOP than judicial nominations.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1100897281507805632004-11-19T15:47:00.000-05:002004-11-19T15:48:01.506-05:00

One of the arguments for re-importation of prescription drugs is that Americans should not have to pay such high prices for these life saving drugs. On its face, it may be a good argument. It strikes me as incongruous that the same political party that is arguing this position is the same one that argues that we should not have abandoned The Kyoto Treaty, at least in part, because developed

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1100887928853832582004-11-19T13:10:00.000-05:002004-11-19T13:12:08.853-05:00

Via Instapundit: A good article about the real cost to a municipality of a media-circus court proceeding. In particular, the uber-high profile death penalty cases where it appears we are actually supposed to actively cheer for guilt, death and the glory of the conquering prosecutor-hero. Cheers broke out among the hundreds of onlookers who gathered outside the courthouse -- some of them

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1100822646553418332004-11-18T17:41:00.000-05:002004-11-18T19:04:06.553-05:00

This past Monday, ABC opened Monday Night Football (MNF) with a semi-nude Nicollette Sheridan provocatively jumping into the arms of Terrell Owens. To no one’s surprise, absolutely everyone has reacted exactly as one would predict. As such, after a few days of "careful" consideration Michael Powell announced today that he is disappointed in ABC and MNF, even Disney did not escape Powell’s

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1100806930230814362004-11-18T14:33:00.000-05:002004-11-18T14:42:10.230-05:00

I know we are all supposed to seize onto the "Bridge to the 21st Century" theme for the look of the Clinton library, but I can't. I cannot get past the thought of Monica Lewinsky every time they show a picture of that elongated, elevated building.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1100726421741853082004-11-17T16:17:00.000-05:002004-11-17T16:20:21.740-05:00

With some separation now between Election Day and today I thought I might discuss not just why, but the idea of what’s next. Dean Based on what has already been said I think it is pretty clear that as much as certain groups, especially within the progressive wing of the Democrat Party, would like to point to one set of issues and announce the identification of the bogeyman that will

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1100544762062593982004-11-15T13:52:00.000-05:002004-11-15T13:52:42.063-05:00

If ex-CIA bin Laden expert Mike Scheuer (formerly Anonymous) is to be believed, Osama bin Laden is a very dangerous man precisely because he is not the crazy insane, ranting, rich guy that MSM has painted him. According to Scheuer, in his 60 Minutes interview broadcast last night bin Laden is actually quite astute and proficient, a ‘worthy combatant’ I believe Scheuer called bin Laden at one

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1100315390699031152004-11-12T22:09:00.000-05:002004-11-12T22:09:50.700-05:00

After hearing the news that Scott Peterson had been found guilty earlier today, I couldn’t resist the urge the flip on some cable news and watch the commentators spin themselves up with endless replays of old footage and engage in congratulatory back slapping with the likes of Gloria Allred. Perhaps the OJ Simpson case was too long ago, but I was rather caught off guard be the reaction of the

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1100270734238801212004-11-12T09:43:00.000-05:002004-11-12T09:45:34.236-05:00

One of the oft repeated phrases that continue to pop up in the run up to and now wake of Yasser Arafat’s death is that he ‘fought for the creation of a Palestinian State.’ While paraphrased, this notion reflects the comments of both heads of state and talking heads alike as mini-eulogies pour out onto the air waves, across cable lines, and into cyberspace. I am left wondering when it is

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1100148227982765272004-11-10T23:40:00.000-05:002004-11-10T23:44:19.823-05:00

Ramallah Compound Built to Spec for Israeli Destruction: $5,000,000 Personal Wealth Augmentation through Embezzlement: $2,000,000,000 Getting to go to France to Die: Priceless

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099948049174663882004-11-08T15:05:00.000-05:002004-11-08T16:07:29.173-05:00

From Instapundit, As David Brooks pointed out the New York Times last week, everyone has a theory of why Bush won the election, and most are wrong. Via Michael Totten, Andrew Coyne does a number on the Christian zealot theory. Also, Mindles H. Dreck over at Asymmetrical Information pulls together a number of useful articles on the topic of who elected George Bush. With all of this

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099609347897072582004-11-04T20:58:00.000-05:002004-11-04T18:02:27.896-05:00

Via Instapundit. This FOX News article is suggesting that bloggers are to blame for leaked exit polling data from Tuesday’s election. Glenn certainly raises some good points. I think there are other good points. Did the leaking or the information that made the MSM and Kerry campaign personnel giddy with the belief that Kerry was going to win? Was it the leaking or the information that

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099605679520469542004-11-04T16:59:00.000-05:002004-11-04T17:01:19.520-05:00

That our political climate is full of venom filled pens and keyboards is of little surprise to anyone who is paying any attention at all to print and television MSM. What is of note is the reliance on the superlative tense in speaking of one’s opponent. Anecdotally, my own recollection is that the popularity of the superlative can be traced Bill Clinton’s use of the phrase “worst economy in

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099527633307088312004-11-03T22:19:00.000-05:002004-11-03T19:20:33.306-05:00

Predictions are difficult under most circumstances. Every now and then, though, things become obvious and it becomes comfortable to step out on that limb and bounce a little. With that said, here I go: Over the next week or two you are going to see an incredible amount of cynicism from the MSM. The MSM is going to be talking about how Karl Rove is now influencing the actual events on the

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099512339185172792004-11-03T18:05:00.000-05:002004-11-03T15:05:39.186-05:00

Dean Esmay has a good thought on what Bush might do to help adavance the meme of coming together. I agree with Dean. I wonder if the MSM would allow the event to come off with such a spirit or whether snarkiness would rule the day.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099509631156721542004-11-03T17:21:00.000-05:002004-11-03T14:20:31.156-05:00

Sen. Kerry just finished up what I consider to be a very gracious and noble concession speech. He was grateful to his supporters and this nation as a whole, humble, basically everything he had to be. Sen. Kerry rose to the occasion in a way that Gore was never able, better than many candidates I have ever seen. “America always moves forward.” I hope you are right, Senator. Edwards, on

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099502299903594362004-11-03T15:16:00.000-05:002004-11-03T12:18:19.903-05:00

Political scientists love to use the word “pendulum” to describe shifts in national sentiment. Not until last night did I realize how completely outdated and/or incorrect the terminology is. The image of a pendulum is one of effortless oscillation between two poles with only gradual change in intensity. Perhaps in days past, decades ago, this was an apt description. However, the longer I

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099456238290495322004-11-02T23:30:00.000-05:002004-11-03T12:19:42.033-05:00

Bush 283 Kerry 255 Update: I'm still not sure what happened here, but I think I miscaluated with respect to Alaska, somehow giving it to Kerry.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099437940361811282004-11-02T18:24:00.000-05:002004-11-02T18:25:40.363-05:00

Presidential Swing States Ohio Florida Pennsylvania Iowa New Mexico Colorado Wisconsin Minnesota Michigan Hawaii Competitive Senate Races Oklahoma South Dakota Alaska North Carolina Louisiana South Carolina Kentucky

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099422709003782482004-11-02T14:11:00.000-05:002004-11-02T14:11:49.003-05:00

As I encourage everyone to do today, I voted. A bit of description of my experience this morning. At 10:15am, my local polling place was not at all heavily attended. There were enough open booths to accommodate everyone standing in line and from what I could tell of the voter rolls turnout had been light earlier today as well. My polling precinct is Democrat dominated in a Republican area

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099347562167453062004-11-01T17:19:00.000-05:002004-11-01T17:19:22.166-05:00

This month’s issue of Wired has an interesting article about how Columbian cocoa growers have created a decentralized peer-to-peer network to distribute a new strain of the cocaine producing plant that is resistant to the herbicides we are using to eradicate it.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099090535351360952004-10-29T18:54:00.000-04:002004-10-29T23:08:42.736-04:00

This VodkaPundit post is just one example of reports about very high turnout this year. This is not surprising given that emotions started off at a rolling boil after the 2000 election with 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq adding to the passion, and more superlatives of all sorts from both sides anyone with even an intermittent heartbeat has a reason to vote. With the return to video releases

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1099024721077952762004-10-29T00:36:00.000-04:002004-10-29T02:14:32.763-04:00

Wondering about what goes into polls? Check out this Slate Post.

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1098932773343642772004-10-27T23:02:00.000-04:002004-10-27T23:06:13.343-04:00

According to this Kerry/Edwards press release, the missing Iraqi weapons could be in the hands of terrorists. "After being warned about the danger of major stockpiles of explosives in Iraq, this administration failed to guard those stockpiles - where nearly 380 tons of highly explosive weapons were kept. Today we learned that these explosives are missing, unaccounted for and could be in

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1098908989955300492004-10-27T19:27:00.000-04:002004-10-27T16:29:49.956-04:00

Slate has published a series of endorsements from staff, editors and contributors. What was most impressive about the article was not that almost to a person, Slate is behind Kerry/Edwards or their tepid attitude towards their preferred candidate. What is most impressive about the piece is that it is blogger friendly. In the first paragraph, Slate provides a link to its own historical data;

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1098743039849619932004-10-25T18:22:00.000-04:002004-10-25T18:23:59.850-04:00

Earlier this afternoon, I was presented with yet another example of why I am having difficulty voting for George Bush. I was driving down the road doing what I usually do in the car - listening to talk radio. In this case, the barely tolerable Sean Hannity was trying to comfort a 25-year old woman from Illinois who was literally crying at the prospect of Bush not being reelected. One,

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1098480987868951262004-10-22T17:32:00.000-04:002004-10-22T17:36:27.866-04:00

I have a hunch, a weird feeling really. If George Bush doesn’t open up a big lead between now and Election Day I just have this feeling that the results this year will be exactly reversed from 2000; Bush will win the popular vote and lose the electoral vote. …and Ohio is going to be at the center of it all. If it comes true, you heard it here first, otherwise forget I ever mentioned it!

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8524099.post-1098151806483244232004-10-19T01:00:00.000-04:002004-10-19T11:36:46.406-04:00

There was an article in yesterday’s New York Times Magazine that really got my attention. No, the George Bush feature story was not it. In this article reporter Rebecca Skloot takes the reader on a journey between Bob Evans and Baristas, in New Martinsville, WV. It is perhaps more than apropos to pick up the theme of John Edwards' Presidential bid this year and give it new life in the daily

Publiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11988388876941713066noreply@blogger.com0