The conservative base of the GOP is in a surly mood, angry at President Bush and assorted members of Congress over immigration and border issues, disappointed with runaway spending, and frustrated over the continuing carnage in Iraq. So it is unsurprising that President Bush's nomination of Henry... More

The bankruptcy and absurdity of the UN is once again on display. Syrian's UN envoy, who once presided as President of the UN Security Council, now blames Israel of starting World War 1 and World War 2, ignoring the inconvenient fact that Israel did not exist then. Such profundity! The... More

The other day French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin announced 40 measures intended to lure back some of the French high—fliers who have left their country for better opportunities abroad. You are reading correctly — the number is forty. One can easily surmise none is particularly... More

Abbas appeals to Israel to send him arms and allow him to beef up his personal security. Their reward? He appoints a murderer to be in charge Comments, State Department? The Jerusalem Post reports: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas decided on Tuesday to appoint a security officer who... More

The Kos Kidz are gathering in Las Vegas starting June 8th. They will be meeting at the Riviera Hotel, previously famed as one of the homes of the Rat Pack, which somehow seems appropriate. Check out the schedule of events here. Dreams of electoral victory hatched in Vegas will undoubtedly stay in... More

You've probably already read the Spiegel Online interview of Iran's Presidential figurehead Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, linked on Drudge. I was all set to filed it under "I've heard all this hogwash before, so what else ain't new?" but then, towards the end, was this rather bold—faced 'statement' by... More

Last week, Enron's Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling, President and CEO respectively, were found guilty of fraud and conspiracy in, arguably, the most heinous corporate scandal in history. Enron represents capitalism at its sleaziest; top corporate executives, lying to the thousands of smaller stockholders... More

Senator Harry Reid, the dour Democrat who seems closest to happy when fulminating over alleged Republican sins, has got some 'splainin' to do. The AP reports: The Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid, accepted free ringside tickets from the Nevada Athletic Commission to three professional boxing... More

It's springtime in Paris, and a young man's ( at least certain young men) thoughts turn to rioting and burning cars. Bloomberg reports About 100 youths battled with the police last night on the outskirts of Paris, injuring nine law enforcement officers, six months after one of the worst riots... More

Georgie Anne Geyer is a liberal commentator, but not a fool. In her current story on El Presidente Fox's failures to bring promised change to Mexico, she tells it like it is ——— why the US is burdened with uncontrollable Mexican illegal immigration.а а... Mexico is so corrupt,... More

Representative William Jefferson is obviously an embarrassment to the Democrats. Just when their "culture of corruption" complaint against the GOP was showing signs of promise, along comes videotape of him accepting $100k in bribes. So profound is the shock that a split has emerged over how to... More

Our contributor Stefania Lapenna is running for the city council in Cagliari, Italy. The election is to be held June 11—12. Stefania is a blogger and political activist, an enthusiastic suipporter of the United States, free markets, and secular democracy. We wish her all the best. More

Next week, June 6, will be the anniversary of Ronald Reagan's death in 2004, exactly sixty years after D—Day. A year before his death, President Reagan made a cameo appearance in one of my dreams.  I seemed to be standing in the lobby of a public building, when he appeared from around a... More

On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg, PA in response to an invitation to make a "few appropriate remarks" at the consecration of a cemetery for the Union war dead.  Lincoln recognized it as an opportunity to honor all those who had given their lives in the War... More

The New York Times continues to astonish us with its relentless spin and condescension toward blacks and others it regards as victims. Today's example falls into the category "candidate for the world's smallest violin" created by James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal's online "Best of the Web"... More

The quest for happiness has been man's obsession since time immemorial, but if anything it has proven a most elusive of goals. But now we finally have the secret. The landmark discovery was made by Lord Layard, a British Labour peer and a professor emeritus at the London School of Economics. The... More

One thing the situation in Iraq is demonstrating rather clearly.  If you don't have an army, you don't have a country.  Fortunately, the United States has always had an army, right from the start when George Washington first set siege to the British in Boston in 1775.   On... More

A new website called Ummah News Links is up and running, with links to news reports from the Muslim world. Based on today's sample, this appears to be a site to keep an eye on. More

It must be tough keeping track of all the workmen doing your chores when you have as many multi—million dollar mansions as Senator Dianne Feinstein and her fabulously wealthy husband Richard Blum. The latest addition to the property collection is a 16 million dollar house in San Francisco,... More

Writing Friday on ESPN.com, baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian discusses  a significant change that has occurred in major league baseball.  Specifically, the adoption of a "zero tolerance" policy regarding acts of "retaliation" by pitchers, i.e., beaning batters for various perceived... More

"False face must hide what the false heart doth know." Macbeth 1.7   The liberals found a new Macbeth To bait the media with claims of death, And atrocious acts by his own men, Opportunely vague 'bout where and when. But liberal bloggers shared with glee, New proof of our troops' infamy; Web... More

From this morning's New York Times, front page, a "News Analysis" by Steven Erlanger: The Palestinian president,  Mahmoud Abbas, often castigated as weak and reactive, has put the Islamic group Hamas [in] a neat political bind while associating himself with prisoners jailed for... More

Meant to protect civilians, UN staff have run away from the capital of East Timor after an outbreak of violence. Australian forces stand firm, meanwhile. The BBC reports: The United Nations has ordered all its non—essential staff out of East Timor, which has been hit by a fresh outburst of... More

Thanks to amazing finds by archaeologists over the years we've learned a few things about the daily life of ancient Egyptians, including their religious practices.  And as the King Tut exhibit travels around the United States we're learning about some unpleasant practices regarding the daily... More

Judge Walton made some rulings yesterday on Scooter Libby's right to certain materials he subpoenaed from the media. The most significant part of his ruling is that he found some internal inconsistencies in Matt Cooper's drafts relating to his testimony about the conversation he had with Libby on... More

Ralph Bennett makes an excellent suggestion, one which I plan to follow on Monday. From TCS Daily: Make this Memorial Day really memorable. Go and find a soldier's grave. It shouldn't be too hard. If you're not near a military cemetery, just about any cemetery will do. Look for the little... More

Our contributor Andrew Bostom will be appearing twice on C—SPAN 2's weekend series Book TV, to discuss his book The Legacy of Jihad The first appearance will be at 4:30 AM (EDT) Sunday morning, while the second appearance will be Tuesday morning at 2 AM (EDT). Since these are not exactly... More

Once again academic leftists are attempting to destroy Israel by bits and pieces: in this case though an academic boycott . Judith Apter Klinghofer has the details on the History News Network. Ironically, Israel practices academic freedom more than any Arab Middle Eastern country, and has... More

Iraq the Model is reporting via a Baghdad newspaper that some terrorist groups in Iraq are urging members to cease using internet, cell and even land lines for communication purposes.  Why?  Because in the past few weeks coalition forces have monitored them and, based on what the intel... More

One group of terror supporters is seeking asylum from other terror groups in a Western European nation. You gotta like that!! Luke Baker of Reuters reports: Staring idly across the hills of the northern West Bank, toward the plains of Israel, Mohammed Zaghal and his friends have no doubt about... More

The website Palestinian Media Watch brings us news that brings needed perspective on faction voted into office by the Palestinian people. The Hamas newspaper this week chronicled with pride the ways in which different foreign leaders singled out the Palestinians as examples of ideal... More

For a very funny read, check out an Iranian satirist's letter to Ahmadinejad, in response to his letter to President Bush. (Translated by MEMRI): Ibrahim Nabavi is a "well—known expatriate Iranian satirist ," according to MEMRI.  He sounds utterly sane and well—informed. This man... More

Amazing and Orwellian member of The RESPECT Party and of the British Parliament, George Galloway says murder of Tony Blair would be "morally justified." George Galloway, deeply implicated in the oil—for—food scandal, insulter of US Senators, and star of a British... More

Moody's has just announced a downgrade in the rating of New York Times Company debt, with Times' senior unsecured long—term debt rating cut by two notches from "A2" to "Baa1," the third—lowest investment grade ranking. It also cut the commercial paper ratings to "Prime—2"... More

California voters are being asked to vote on establishing a new state program to provide daycare ("preschool") at state expense for young childfren. Bookworm has an insightful critique of this program, which has every prospect of turning into a major boondoggle, costing too much, worsening the... More

First the Chicago skyway (a tollway) was sold to a private group; now our free spending governor is contemplating selling the Illinois Lottery to raise funds. The only good side of wasteful goverment spending is that it eventually catches up with reality. As government is forced to raise funds to... More

There is a new phenomenon emerging — medical tourism. Discouraged by the prohibitive costs at home, many people opt to travel to foreign lands for medical treatment. A number of developing countries seek to capitalize on this by offering first—rate care at an appreciably lower price.... More

Our contributor Rocco DiPippo pens an essay at The Autonolmist on the kind of American soldier the drive—by media likkes to write about. If you will be remembering a fallen hero this coming Memorial Day you may want to wait before you read it, or at least take your blood opressure... More

It's the time of year when long—suffering tuition—poor parents get primped up and drive countless miles to stew in summer's heat, sitting on excruciatingly uncomfortable folding wooden seats on damp fields, gnats biting at their ankles and ears. They do this for one reason: to see their... More

Cut off (for the moment at least) from American and other infidel subsidies, the Hamas rulers of of the Palestinian Authority are resorting to fundraisers of a peculiarly Palestinian sort. MEMRI reports and offers a TV link to the grotesque details: Auctioneer: Brothers, there is a man who... More

After last year's defeat of a ferocious British campaign against two Israeli universities, the boycotters have come back again. On May 29 they intend to force through a NATFHE Union Board motion encouraging their "members to boycott Israeli educational institutions and individuals who 'do not... More

When people feel oppressed and unable to tell the truths that everybody knows, laughter comes as a great, cleansing experience. That is how satire was used in Soviet Russia, in Nazi—occupied Europe, and undoubtedly in all other oppressed nations. That is how we use it in Politically Correct... More

Last November I told you that Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS), a group of anti—Administration lefties closely linked to Kerry and the Democrats, were spreading the Ambassador Munchausen fable with the assistance of a complicit media which disingenuously referred to them... More

Our contributor Paul Jackson writes a wise column in the Calgary Sun with the message that his American conservative friends may be letting their expectations for Stephen Harper's ability to move Canada rightward get a bit ahead of the pace which is possible. Since I would like to think of myself... More

The ultimate liberal hypocrisy was revealed today by the announcement that the A.C.L.U., purported defender of free speech rights, construes them as applicable only to those in agreement with its own dogmatic liberal views —— much reminiscent of  the speech—stifling students... More

A distinctly Palestinian mode of governance has emerged, ever since that national identity was fabricated to create a victim class worthy of Western sympath and support. Palestinians rule Gaza with no Isareli interference. They have created their own politics for the world to see.  The BBC... More

India has just passed a law mandating affirmative action quotas for lower castes. The BBC reports: The Indian government has decided to implement a controversial affirmative action plan despite ongoing protests. Under the plan, half of state—funded professional college places would go to... More

Yesterday's press accounts of the $400 million fine levied on Fannie Mae left me furious over the amazing lack of detail on the scandal itself and especially its perpetrators. From the WaPo: Fannie Mae engaged in "extensive financial fraud" over six years by doctoring earnings so executives... More

Powerline has a link to a very important and fresh story about the rescue of Katrina survivors in New Orleans by Lou Dolinar on Real Clear Politics. The gravamen of the story is that a massive rescue operation occurred on Monday — Thursday before the press really showed up — i.e., that... More

Martin Wolf of the Financial Times serves up a sobering assessment  of the European Welfare State Model: This is a continent of high and persistent unemployment, declining productivity growth, rapid ageing and growing fiscal strains; it is also one whose once—proud role in... More

That's John O'Sullivan's best "MoveOn.org" impersonation regarding the "comprehensive immigration reform" currently winding its way through the Senate.  Sullivan, a senior editor at National Review, summarizes the various amendments that have been considered by the Senate so far, and the... More

Contributor Rick Moran notes at his site Rightwing Nuthouse that a new poll conducted by Zogby shows an alarming willingness to entertain conspiracy theories about 9/11. In the telephone survey of 1200 individuals, just 47% agreed that 'the 9/11 attacks were thoroughly investigated and that any... More

In an editorial titled "A Childish Church," the UK Telegraph writes: "Sadly, the Church of England's report on how to cure urban deprivation is a curate's egg ....the overall analysis is socialism tinged with piety. Attacking "market—driven capitalism", sententiously proposing "a living... More

On the cover of this week's Time magazine (May 29) are three hardbodies which, on closer inspection, turn out to be the Dixie Chicks.  Apparently, the rationale for their appearance on a premier venue in American media is some alteration in their attitude toward George Bush, although it is... More

Ever since the First Gulf War, the preferred strategy for dealing with madman dictators was and remains one of regime change.  The theory goes that once the head of state is eliminated or removed from power, the rest of the populace and the armed forces will bow to our will.  The... More

Katherine Kersten, recently added as a conservative columnist to the leftist Star—Tribune newspaper, points to a recent poll showing a very slight GOP majority among Minnesotans who express a political affiliation. Speaking as a born and bred Minnesotan now in exile, I think I understand this... More

James Lewis has a piece on AT about the World Council of Churches passing a resolution that Israel's actions toward the Palestinians 'cannot be justified....' This facile attitude seems so widespread that it would appear many people are unaware of a very important piece of history after the... More

Memorial Day approaches and our minds naturally return to thoughts of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Thomas Lipscomb, a Vietnam vet himself, writes an elegy in the Philadelphia Inquirer for one particular casualty of the Iraq conflict, a man whose name is often invoked,... More

The recent mutiny at the terrorist lockup at Guant疣amo Bay is cited by some as another proof of the allegedly unbearable conditions that the detainees are forced to endure. But a careful look at the circumstances reveal just the opposite. And they also indicate something very worrying about... More

A Washington, DC teachers union official was sentenced to serious jail time (11 years) for massive embezzlement. And the case is by no means unique, even within that one union local. Eric M. Weiss of the Washington Post reports: Former Washington Teachers' Union official Gwendolyn M. Hemphill was... More

Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee are the finalists in the current season of American Idol.  Last year's show had a Carrie Underwood v. Bo Bice final, with Country Carrie prevailing over the long—haired rocker Bo.   Hicks and McPhee are white.  That makes this year's... More

You might have thought that the World Council of Churches thinks of Israel as simply Evil ——— a kind of mean, sadistic nation of smartypants J—people. But apparently not. No, Israel is Evil and also Stupid. According to George Conger in the Jerusalem Post, Israel bears the... More

Tom Maguire notes that Tim  Russert is about to launch his book tour and offers up a question you may want to ask him if he shows up at your neighborhood bookstore: Tim, last summer and fall you were criticized for not being forthcoming about your role in the Valerie Plame... More

In today's New York Post, Dick Morris reads the most recent polling tea leaves, and recommends  that the way for President Bush to regain his popularity in the face of $3.00 per gallon gasoline is to "declare the equivalent of the bomb—building Manhattan Project and embark on a crash... More

New York Times publisher Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr, known to friend and foe alike as Pinch, seems to have experienced a bit of a meltdown on the podium at graduation ceremonies for the State University of New York, New Palz. He began by apologizing for not making the world perfect. From The... More

I believe that the internet is the fastest way to expose fraud and false reporting and today we have two great examples: An anti—war video is proven false in hours.   And yet another Walter Pincus fantasia on the Libby case is shredded to bits in even less... More

Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, the entrepreneur, blogger and author who publishes the Daily Kos website, is now a homeowner in Berkeley, where the median price for homes is over half a million dollars. On behalf of the propertied class of Berkeley, I welcome him to the joys of home ownership. I can... More

It sounds like a bad movie all by itself. Hugo Chavez, on his weekly national television show, announced that Oliver Stone would be making a movie about his 2002 coup attempt, something he brought on himself by making life intolerable for Venezuelans. Chavez is loaded with conspiracy theories... More

Readers who enjoyed Richard Baehr's view of Chicago baseball rivalry are advised to visit our contributor Rick Moran's excellent website Rightwing Nuthouse for a view of the crosstown showdown from an unabashed Sox fan. More

Reader Dave Runyan kindly shared his email sent to NPR this morning. You might find it interesting. I heard much information about Congressman William Jefferson on NPR Monday morning.  I heard about his alleged crime and the bags of money in his freezer, his district, his committee... More

Daniel McGrory of the Times of London reports that three EU countries have sent $45 million in rtansom to terrorists. FRANCE, Italy and Germany sanctioned the payment of $45 million in deals to free nine hostages abducted in Iraq, according to documents seen by The Times. All three... More

We have been covering the continuing fight among historians over President Truman's decision to use atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II. More

There's the rub, as far as China's rulers are concerned. Robert Marquand of the Christian Science Monitor writes about the central founding myth of the Communist Revolution, The Long March, and the way the government suppresses publication of historical revision to the sometimes outright falsehoods... More

Jerry Brown, outgoing mayor of Oakland, former governor (nicknamed "Governor Moonbeam" by Johnny Carson), and candidate for California attorney general, doesn;t know how to quit running for office. If he loses his run for the AG, I imagine the Oakland dogcatcher might start worrying. He also... More

Alex Beech does us a service by focusing on the plight of Venezuela's Jewish community, living in fear, and already diminished by emigration. Hugo Chavez has shown where his sympathies lie, in his alliance with Iran's mullahs, with his support of Palestinian extremists, and with his admiration of... More

Our contributor Paul Jackson writes an outstanding column for the Calgary Sun today, titled "I'm sticking with Bush." President George W. Bush strides across the world stage as much as the U.S. dominates the world's stage. This is very good news for those of us who still believe in decency and... More

Will this take "Abramoff" and "culture of corruption" out of the Dems' vocabulary? The Andrew Barakat of the AP reports: A congressman under investigation for bribery was caught on videotape accepting $100,000 in $100 bills from an FBI informant whose conversations with the lawmaker also... More

In the Washington Post today, novelist and essayist Mark Helprin discusses  what he calls the "unvarnished immigration debate." Helprin rightly points out that not only can the nation's borders be secured, but doing so is a necessary precondition of sovereignty.  He also sensibly... More

Last week, it was reported (and disputed) that Iran is considering adopting an "Islamic" dress code for Muslims and non—Muslims alike.  Muslims will be prohibted from wearing "gay, wild, provocative" colors, like red, yellow, and light blue, which are considered the Devil's colors. ... More

Sometimes polls provide valuable data. Sometimes polls are skewed for political reasons. And sometimes polls confirm the obvious. AFP, the French news service is running the following poll results: The French have been voted the world's most unfriendly nation by a landslide in a new British poll... More

So claims the Washington Post. The GOP is on the verge of a major electoral disaster. Each week more House seats once considered safe (60—65% for Bush in 04) are now on the endangered list for incumbent GOP congressmen. The list is probably over 50 at this point,and may grow some more. ... More

Senator John McCain was heckled as he delivered the commencement speech at the New School in New York, as noted here by Richard Baehr.  Senator McCain's fellow commencement speaker and lead heckler, Sara Jean Rohe, has been catapulted into the big time by the protest against the... More

Civilized standards don't apply to Islamic fascists. The Sunday Times (UK) reports that  "A SENIOR member of an Islamic organisation linked to Al—Qaeda is funding his activities through the kidnapping of Christian children who are sold into slavery in Pakistan. The Sunday Times has... More

Religious Liberals gain New Visibility, or so proclaims the Washington Post. Where is the NYT editorial about the division between state and religion? Ed Lasky   5 20 06 More

I've argued that the Special Counsel has criminalized a political dispute and increasingly seems to be using his position, not to advance his case, but to smear the defendant and the Administration. Either that, or he seems to have a very spotty knowledge of the facts in the case he is... More

This all helps McCain, who is running a very skillful campagin. Going to Liberty University looks to leftists like pandering, but is probably seen by Christians as making peace.  Being abused by disrespectul left wing students in New York  helps him even more with the right and the... More

Iran's announced intention to force non—Muslims to wear an identifying badge is causing many to make the comparison to Hitler and the Nazis, who forced Jews to wear badges in the shape of the Star of David. But our contributor Dr. Andrew Bostom pointed out for me that the roots for this lie... More

Bruce Bawer provides an excellent counterpoint to the views of Frederik H Coppes in an AT article today. Bawer is a former Bay Area media figure whose work I admired when he lived here, despite some differences in outlook. Bawer now resides in Norway, and is a different man since 9/11. He is the... More

With his opening statement yesterday before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Gen. Michael V. Hayden left no doubt that he was a man on a mission to make the CIA the best it can be, a man with a vision for that demoralized Agency.  Priority Number One will be human intelligence collection... More

Former Senator Robert Toricelli is facing some unpleasantness. The Financial Times reports: The US Senate is looking into allegations that a former US senator urged Baghdad to give a US company lucrative contracts under the much—criticised United Nations oil—for—food... More

China, the disequilibrating great nation on the rise in geo—politics, wants to be regarded as a normal nation. Not a brutal dictatorship riven by corruption and kept in power by force. Hosting the Olympics in Beijing in 2008 is regarded as a turning point, and every effort is being made... More

Aussiegirl writes insightfully at Ultima Thule on the hugely important matter of our collective understanding the mentality of Islamo—fascists. The literate and intriguing analysis focuses on the concept of honor as a social control mechanism (my label, not hers). She explains the concept of... More

Something hideous happened in Ecuador earlier this week. Like a feudal fiefdom, the fragmented, incoherent government of Ecuador declared it would confiscate $1 billion in assets from Occidental Petroleum, a U.S. company that is the country's leading foreign investor. Oxy has sunk $6 billion into... More

Australia's Prime Minister John Howard does not join the chorus of anti—Americanism common to West European elites, disappointed at their eclipse in power and wealth. He has lead Australia into close alliance with the United States because he believes what he says. From The Age of... More

Prime Minister Stephen Harper pulled—off another victory in Canada, with Parliamentary approval of a two year extension of Canada's military presence in Afghanistan. Canadian forces have been concentrated in the South, where they see danger. A female soldier was killed recently. It was... More

Steven Malanga writes an in—depth analysis in City Journal of the real source of money and organization power on the left: the public employees and their unions and allies. The article is long, colorful, and insightful. Here is a fair use excerpt to give you some flavor: Perhaps... More

Like him or not, Henry Kissinger is still one of the sharpest knives in the US foreign policy drawers. Today's article in the Washington Post shows he has not lost his edge. Called "A Nuclear Test for Diplomacy," in it Kissinger calls for a "Reagan—Brezhnev" approach to the spread of nukes to... More

Now that it's clear that both houses of Congress want a wall on the border, the focus has to shift to the Conference Committee because whatever "softer" provisions the Senate passes, the conference committee will have to make a resolution between that and the House's tough provisions. And I bet on... More

The sly poker playin' Texan wins yet another bluff. The Senate votes to build 370—mile triple—layered border fence (HT: Drudge). Now if he said that's what he wanted to do, the wussies in the Senate would never have done that. And that is why 6,000 National Guardsmen are going... More

From Yahoo Finance Today. 8:34AM New York Times reports April revenues (NYT) 25.06 : NYT  announced today that in April 2006 advertising revenues for the co's business units decreased 1.6% and total co revenues increased 0.1% compared with April 2005. "As anticipated, our advertising results... More

Jeff Jacoby writes about a leading light of moderate Islam, a graduate of and former professor at Al Azhar University in Cairo, who had the temerity to question Wahhabi orthodoxy via his Koranic studies. [Ahmed Mansour] learned the hard way that Muslim reformers who speak out against Islamist... More

Truly amazing things are happening in Britain. The British public schools will actually attempt to teach 'traditional British values' under a plan being put forth by the Blair government. Said the UK's higher education minister: I very strongly believe that we are a multicultural, diverse... More

Our contributor J. James Estrada appears once again in the Arizona Republic op—ed ranks. He advocates a fence as the cheaper alternative, and points to some interesting history: Building a fence is not a new idea. In fact, it was the Clinton administration that launched Operation Gatekeeper... More

Research on Amnesty International highlights a disproportionate focus on America and Israel. From NGO Monitor: The Capital Research Center (CRC), based in Washington, issued a report in May on Amnesty International (AI) charging that the group has adopted "double standards on human rights...an... More

An op—ed by commander of Joint Task force Guantanamo runs in the Chicago Tribune. Think this would ever show up in the New York Times?Ed Lasky  5 17 06 More

With Japan's current Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi widely expected to step down in September, two of the leading candidates hoping to replace him both have family connections that have outraged key allies in the region.  Last October I noted the problems for Shinzo Abe.  At the... More

If Lee Iacocca were dead, he'd be spinning in his grave. Fortunately, he is still with us, so I wonder what he thinks of the billboards which sneer at America in advertising the teeny—tiny "Smart" minicars that are losing so much money for Daimler in Europe that they are tring to sell them in... More

Reader Doug Faison writes in with an important thought about the recent court decision affirming the right of self—preservation and allowing certain terminal patients to take experimental drugs One point that may have been missed in the recent AT article "Preserving Self—Preservation"... More

For all the marching and speeches about non—proliferation, the President seems to have hit at last  on something that worked:The war on Iraq. Judith Miller has the beginning of a two part series on how the war induced Libya to fold on its nuclear program: Col. Gadhafi's hip,... More

Dr. Paul Belien, the Editor—in—Chief of the excellent Brussels Journal blog,  is under legal and media attack in Belgium for supposedly inspiring a skinhead murder spree. Dr. Belien is a journalist and founder of the Center for the New Europe, a free—market think tank. He is... More

This week, the Muslim Student Union of the University of California at Irvine is sponsoring an anti—Israel, pro—terror conference titled "Holocaust in the Holy Land."  (hat tip: David Horowitz)  The conference includes presentations on such topics as "Hamas: The People's... More

Diane Ravitch, through her columns and books such as The Language Police:How Pressure Groups Reestrict What Students Learn, has been a true leader  in trying to ensure our children receive a quality education. She has been in the forefront of exposing how "language police" (nee "thought... More

An article  on the website of the American Heart Association opens with this: Once considered primarily a problem of the poor, obesity is growing fastest in among those making more than $60,000 a year, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's 45th Annual Conference... More

The Fars news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran is running a headline on an article today that makes me downright queasy: "American Thinkers Write to White House in Support of Iran" The text of the article reveals that by "American Thinkers" the agency means "professors, academicians,... More

For those who still think that Noam Chomsky is a "great thinker," welcome to reality. Chomsky was a militant anarchist metaphorical bomb—thrower long before he (accidentally) became a famous linguist. Chomsky was "discovered" long before he completed his long and unreadable dissertation... More

Accuracy in Media reports that the Bolshie Beeb, as the BBC is unaffectionately known by furious Conservatives in the UK, is now set to invade the American market. BBC evening news is already available on some PBS stations and on cable, and more is to follow soon. Since its inauguration in 1998,... More

Aayan Hirsi Ali, the brave Dutch legislator who worked with the slain film director Van Gogh ,is leaving Holland and coming to the US to work with AEI. Holland's loss is America's gain: She is a  brilliant, beautiful opponent of Islamofascism.   YARGB  poster  Chuck... More

I believe that the NSA leak investigation  might well nab some present and former Department of Justice attorneys, and that is why the NSA refused to give security clearances to Department lawyers in the Office of Professional Responsibility. An online friend reminded me of earlier reports... More

Mike DeWine's polls are collapsing, according to Rasmussen. Could be disaster for GOP in Ohio. Sherrod Brown is very liberal, not the kind of candiate who should win statewide for the Democrats in moderately conservative Ohio. Richard Baehr   5 15 06 More

It was invetable. The Washington Post reports that students in the United States are employing tutors overseas (in India, mostly), to help them with math and other difficult subjects, connected by internet telephony. In an hour—long session that cost just $18, the Indian tutor, who said his... More

Hugo Chavez is visiting London, and met with London Mayor Red Ken Livingstone. Our friend Aleskander Boyd of Vcrisis is all over the British media, meanwhile. He writes, "Three and half years of hard work came to a head today." We will add links as to more of his appearances we find them. Here is... More

The fact that Dick Cheney made last year a charitable donation of $6.87 million — the largest ever by a public servant — has gone virtually unnoticed in the mainstream media. Given that they are so eager to report all the bad things they can find about those evil trial—lawyer... More

In the Boston Globe this weekend, liberal commentator Robert Kuttner chastised Hillary Clinton  for her upcoming fundraiser to be hosted by Rupert Murdoch, the "right—wing publishing mogul" who owns Fox Television, the New York Post, and the Weekly Standard. Kuttner's editorial once... More

For a guy, I don't know very much about cars. Certainly, I am not a buff in any sense of the term. Yet Iowahawk's amazing essay on the contribution of Mexian—Americans to American car culture had me riveted to the screen. When a good writer covers a topic he knows and loves, the result can be... More

Context is always an important issue when analyzing contentious issues such as those now swirling around NSA and CIA director—designate Gen. Michael V. Hayden.  It tends to get lost amidst all the sound and fury, as does the central fact that the first duty of any president is... More

In October of 2001 Muqtedar Khan, then director of international studies at Adrian College in Michigan, wrote ($) in the Wall Street Journal a piece titled 'Some Muslims Give Islam a Bad Name': Another imam, Fawaz Damra of the Cleveland Islamic Center, was videotaped speaking in 1991 to an Islamic... More

The UK Independent reported yesterday that France faces an acute political crisis this weekend as further evidence accumulates that the President, Jacques Chirac, and his Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, were linked to an intricate attempt to smear their colleague and rival, Nicolas... More

The Brussels Journal reports that the Spanish Socialist Party is now pushing through legislation to grant "moral and legal" rights to the great apes. This is following the Great Apes Project manifesto, which proclaims: We demand the extension of the community of equals to include all great apes:... More

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told us that the Holocaust a myth. Now Ahmadinejad has an American acolyte, a Democrat cadidate for Attorney General in the Great State of Aalabama. The AP reports: Democratic Party leaders are wondering what to do about a candidate for attorney... More

For those keeping up with the case, Tom Maguire has posted the transcript of the little—reported May 5, 2003 hearing in the Libby case, along with some highlights from it. One of those highlights is that Marc Grossman (Under Secretary for Political Affairs from 2001 to 2005)... More

Palestinians seek jail time in Israel to avail themselves of educational benefits and inmate stipends available in Israeli prisons. JTA reports: Israeli officials have reported an increasing number of young Palestinians trying to get themselves imprisoned in Israel. A Reuters story issued... More

The new tax bill eliminates some corporate tax relief, and thereby avoids a contentious tax dispute with the EU. The BBC reports: In a long—running spat, the US and EU had clashed over tax breaks for US exporters, which the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled were illegal. The EU was set to... More

At Ultima Thule, Aussiegirl grapples with the ultimate questions of contemporary Western culture, those deriving from the loss of faith. This is not easy reading, but Aussiegirl covers a lot of important ground. Hat tip: Tim Birdnow More

NRO reveals an eye—opening letter found in the Clinton correspondence respecting abortion drug RU—486: SPEAKING OF RU 486 [Ramesh Ponnuru] Judicial Watch's report on the topic has a lot of eye—opening information, but the letter from Ron Weddington, the co—counsel on Roe v.... More

Sweetness & Light presents the evidence that AOL doesn't like President Bush very much. Check out the collection of images chosen by AOL. Like the New York Times and other major papers, and all the TV news outlets except FNC, images which make the president look bad are real media favorites. More

On Jan 23, 2006, Gen. Hayden explained the mission, the responsibilities, of the NSA in an address to the National Press Club. He explained how the terrorist surveillance program was NOT domestic spying vis—a—vis hostile, misleading headlines & stories in the antique media. ... More

Fortune brings us the news that the AARP has loosened its requirement that one be 50 years old to join. He's Jim Aley, he's 40, and, yes, he just joined AARP. Turns out that this organization of more than 36 million members is ready and willing to take in people who aren't "over 50," though that... More

Just in time for the Hayden confirmation hearings USA Today recycles the NSA survveillance story with hints of nefarious purposes behind the data mining of telephone traffic patterns. I would remind you that this is what happens every day when traffic engineers monitor traffic patterns, when... More

Let me put the Persian nutjob's remarks in Rick Moran's excellent article today in a different light.  Ahmadinejad said: September eleven was not a simple operation. Could it be planned and executed without coordination with intelligence and security services — or their extensive... More

Following the election of Giorgio Napolitano — a communist — as Italian president, there is great rejoicing in the European media who have been eagerly painting a picture of a great, wise and reasonable statesman. This is what the UK Telegraph had to say: Mr Napolitano is widely... More

On a hill in San Diego Stands a monument to our losses; A tribute to our wartime dead Like many other crosses. Against a tranquil azure sky, This cross has borne the years, It's spreading shadow falling Upon graves that bear our tears. For decades no one's questioned This pale tribute to our... More

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai invites  wealthy, wealthy people to invest in a proposed luxurious resort to be known as The World, "a collection of 300 private islands in the shape of continents located off the coast of Dubai." In the Master Plan section of... More

Kavanaugh's ABA rating  was downgraded upon the word of Marna Tucker, a D.C. lawyer with longstanding ties to Hillary Clinton who had long had a hold on his confirmation for the reason he served under Ken Starr on the Whitewater investigation. Bad enough. Now, as Powerline noted, the ABA has... More

There's a lot of scrubbing of the online record going on. The other day Sweetness & Light noted the May 2, 2003 Senate Democratic Policy Committee  program was removed. Yesterday a sharp reader notes that the note in Wilson's June 14, 2003  EPIC speech bio has had the information that... More

Martin Frost, a former member of House of Representatives Democrat leadership, writes on Fox News that The Democrats have lost the middle class: In 2004, John Kerry lost middle class white voters by 22 points and Congressional Democrats lost middle class white voters by 19 points. Kerry lost all... More

Here's an update to the ongoing series tracking the eastern—hemispheric, multi—culti effort to erase all vestiges of humanity's ancient past. From BBC News, Cairo, we learn that 'Egyptians look to Islam for answers.' And just what was the question? A religious ruling condemning the... More

The pot is calling the kettle black over at Turtle Bay on Manhattan's East Side. The United Nations rewards serial abusers of human rights by membership on the Human Rights Council , "Screaming Mary" who tormented American hostages during the Iran hostage crisis gets a prestigious UN... More

Our contributor Andrew Bostom, author of the book The Legacy of Jihad, spoke yesterday at the Heritage Foundation on that subject. A video link is now available via the Heritage website. More

Apparently unwilling to rely on its distorted news coverage alone  to sour its readers' day, the New York Times brings its depressing touch to this feature about Mother's Day: ...as much as we may like to believe that mother animals are designed to nurture and protect their young, to... More

Amidst all the sound and fury surrounding the appointment of Gen. Michael V. Hayden to be the next Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) one seeks in vain for pertinent information. A lot of people don't know what the DCI's job is.  Since the Intelligence reform & terrorism... More

Many republicans are already frightened that the Democrats will use the occasion of General Hayden's confirmation hearings to bring up the subjects of the National Security Agency and Guant疣amo. Rather than feeling apprehensive the Republicans should rejoice, since this represents a priceless... More

The 1975 Helsinki Accords on human rights, thought at the time to be a toothless agreement, turned out in restrospect to give dissidents in the European communist countries, particularly the Soviet Union, a place to stand since they could pretend they were supporting a policy their governments had... More

In today's News from the Dark Ages comes a report from an "Egyptian Cleric and Former Islamic Lecturer in the US" who has discovered from official UN documents that "Jews produce more than 82% of the video clips in the world," and adds that "82% of all attempts to corrupt humanity originate from... More

On the same day that China was given a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, AP reports: China on Tuesday blasted a U.S. decision to release five Chinese Muslims from the Guantanamo Bay detention center to seek asylum in Albania, describing them as suspected terrorists and demanding... More

The ABA is treading on dangerous ground by allowing its rating of judicial nominees become openly politicized.  Charles Hurt writes in the Washington Times A 14—member ABA committee changed Brett M. Kavanaugh's rating last month in part because six members downgraded their rating from... More

China Challenges directs us to an article in The Australian about the alarming amount of non—performing loans being carried on the books of Chinese financial firms. The amount is thought to exceed one trillion dollars, or a staggering 40% of GDP. Politics and corruption are to blame. The... More

Yesterday the media moved to quash Libby's subpoenas. Cboldt posted the pleadings in html form here.    Tom Maguire deftly critiques them, noting some verbal  tap dancing and weaknesses. Clarice Feldman   5 09 06 More

Undoubtedly in response to  constant bleatings that we need yet better and better armor, the military has designed new gear which looks like someone's over—protective mother designed it.  The military hate it, saying it makes them look "goofy"   The critics of... More

Our friend Aleksander Boyd, of the excellent Vcrisis website writes today in the Times of London of the meeting between leftist emerging dictator Hugo Chavez and leftist Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. WHICH INTERNATIONAL leader publicly threatens to blow up his country's oilfields, supports... More

The Memphis Flyer highlights a curious, if not disturbing piece of evidence on the journalistic standards to the New York Times. About a year ago, Little Rock writer Leslie Peacock wrote a story about the discovery of the ivory—billed woodpecker in Arkansas. The article first ran in the... More

Yesterday saw the ACLU bastion of Marin County turn downright hostile toward a group normally favored by liberals:  prisoners, specifically paroled sex offenders. The California Department of Corrections, on Thursday, shipped twelve paroled high risk sex offenders to San Quentin prison,... More

The conservative Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's longest serving post—war Prime Minister and business tycoon, has long been a thorn in the side of his country's Left. Hating him with a passion every bit as virulent as that of American liberals for George W. Bush, he has been the... More

As we have noted with great pleasure, Canada is pursuing new directions under Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Despite claims by the American Left that we Americans are "isolated" and unpopular because of our foreign policies, voters in important democracies have chosen governments (Germany and... More

Once again  British university lecturers are being asked to boycott Israeli  trachers at  Israeli educational institutions and those who teach there.  This time the boycott call is broader and the shame for such unconscionable behavior greater: The largest university and... More

Sweetness & Light reviews Joseph Wilson's statements in the months before and after May of 2003 and finds, as I have, that there was a substantial shift in Ambassador Munchausen's tale. Why did his story change so substantially? One clue is the Democratic Senate Policy Committee's... More

Since the Democrats will, predictably, resurrect the canard of "domestic spying" to attack CIA director nominee Gen. Michael V. Hayden during upcoming hearings, it might be useful to take another look at the legal bases for the NSA's terrorist surveillance program.  As Attorney General Alberto... More

A literary prize ignited a firestorm. More

The editors of NRO point out how critical it is to continue the work of routing out the Fifth Column in the CIA. In addition to some things we've already noted about the considerable perfidy at the agency (such as allowing the head of its counterterrorism book to publish his anti—Bush screed... More

Herb and Marion Sandler are legends in the worlds of both finance and politics. Now in their 70s, the couple have run Golden West Savings for decades, having built it from a small S&L into a highly profitable giant. Friends who know them have long told me what nice people they are, how smart... More

According to the Times of London, Health lobbyists have decided that ice—creams are too much of a danger to children's health. MPs and health officials are planning a series of measures across the country that are already forcing Mr Whippy and his helpers into meltdown. Under an amendment to... More

General Michael V. Hayden comes to the post of CIA director with impressive credentials. Besides having had practical overseas experience and his tour as National Security Agency director, and therefore knowledgeable about the intel community bureaucracy, his having worked with National... More

Muslims are moving into so—called Jewish settlements to escape depredations from fellow Palestinians, according to the Washington Times. An unanticipated consequence of Israel's West Bank security barrier has been an influx of Israeli Arabs into Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem who... More

It turns out that a major contributor to Hillary Clinton isа John Burgess owner of International Profit Associates is—— a convicted thief and john of an underage prostitute —— he and his company haveа emerged as one of Hillary's most prominent contributors. Captain Ed of... More

In his acceptance speech for the 1976 Democratic nomination, Jimmy Carter said a memorable phrase: The income tax system, he said, "is a disgrace to the human race." It is certainly the best rhyme of Carter's presidency, and it is still apt, because it describes Carter himself to a T. After... More

Yesterday I watched the British Classical Music Awards whose format and lavish production closely echoed the Oscars. But there was one big difference — the participants. Unlike at the Oscars, there were no people who are neither very smart nor very clever thinking that they are very... More

Sweetness & Light has the goods on Ray McGovern, who heckled Donald Rumsfeld and received near—adulation in some media outlets for doing so. McGovern has been everywhere crowing over his chastisement of Rumsfeld, such as he did here to Paula Zahn on CNN: MCGOVERN: And when he used that... More

Jack Risko conducts a little quiz at Dinocrat.com: Guess who wrote this report to Congress on the foundations for attacking America, given by an Islamic ambassador: ... that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have... More

Though the investigation into who "outed" Plame was premised on the notion that (a) her identity was not publicly known before RobertаNovak's article in July 2003аand (b) the disclosure came from the Administration——particularly persons in the White House to somehow "punish" Wilson,... More

By their wit and wisdom Many libs are smitten But have many books Have those dolphins written?   Vasko Kohlmayer   5 07 06 More

During his weekly press briefing in Baghdad, Multi—National Force Iraq spokesman Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch detailed the ongoing progress being made against Al Qaeda and Zarqawi — "the most prolific threat to he people of Iraq" — stating that Zarqawi has the most to lose with the... More

We have written extensively about the dual class shareholding structure that allows the Sulzberger family to keep its incompetent scion Pinch in charge of the New York Times Company's destiny. How surprising, then, to find Times economics writer Gretchen Morgenson today being rather critical of a... More

Jeff Jacoby nails Senator Edward Kennedy in the Boston Globe for double hypocrisy in his opposition to the wind farm proposed for offshore waters near his property on Cape Cod: Hypocrisy #1: ''The vast majority of Americans share our commitment to basic fairness," he lectured his fellow senators... More

Last week we were treated to the story of how Spain thought so little of the Roman antiquities that lay beneath the surface of its sunny soil that they went ahead and paved over one of the most significant archeological finds ever uncovered in Iberia. Well, not to be outdone, the French are... More

Our terror—master enemy looks stupid in captured vidoetape outtakes, fumbling with an automatic weapon. The tape is circulated worldwide to harm the standing and image of our enemy, for whoim image is a vital recruitment tool. The New York Times, for reqsons known only to its management and... More

Hugo Chavez seems to be saying he will ignore the constitutional term of office and rule indefinitely, unless the opposition agrees not to mention electoral fraud to international bodies or boycott the coming elections. The tyrant shows his colors. Hat tip: Joe Crowley More

Our contributor Olivier Guitta explains the Clearstream scandal which is engulfing France in a dirty tricks scandal often compared to Watergate. Here is his summary of the messy case: A prime minister [Dominique de Villepin] known for skullduggery asked, allegedly on the orders of the president, a... More

'Courageous' and 'brave' are the words they use, As the Liberal media try to disabuse Us common folk of another Kennedy caper. You can read each gushing line in your morning paper.   The story was this, and then it was that, But Congressman Kennedy gets a pat On the head and a slap on his... More

Over a year ago, we reported on a horrific crime in Berkeley, California, in which an elderly woman walking by park in my neighborhood was attacked from behind with a knife, her throat slit to the bone, and left to die with her husband standing beside her. Fortunately, the victim recovered, and the... More

The MNF—Iraq site has a revealing captured document — the terrorists' strategy for Baghdad.  Here is an excerpt: B)  Drive away the Shi'ahs and expel their businesses and workplaces from our areas. The exploitation of this phase of displacement of the Shi'ahs from our areas,... More

Did you know that Electronic Redaction Doesn't Always Hide What It's Supposed to Hide? I, for one, had no idea that the spooky folks within our own government were so unsavvy at covering their own e—behinds, did you? Joe Crowley   5 06 06 More

Our contributor James Estrada is featured in the Arizona Republic, with his thoughts on United 93. A sample: I attended a showing of United 93 at a theater in Mesa. The movie, about the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania on 9/11, was shown in the largest theater available. However, the... More

Stephen Spruiell at NRO's Media Blog notices the New York Post's report of the rise in short—sellers of the stock of the New York Times Company. He notes: "Pinch" Sulzberger can't do anything to quell stockholder unrest: He's the problem! He's presided over one newsroom catastrophe after... More

Following Labour's losses in Thursday's local elections there are predictable calls from the party's left wing for Tony Blair to hand over his prime ministerial post. Tony Blair's centrism has been driving these people crazy for years now with the result that many among them hate him with a passion... More

With a pictorial slideshow, allahpundit  shows how Democrats make Jews "feel comfortable to be American Jews" as Howard Dean said.   Somehow, I think the evidence belies the claim. h/t: Patterico Clarice Feldman   5 05 06 More

As I believed for some time, Ambasador Munchausen blabbed the fact of his wife's employment himself, the government has no proof that Plame was covert within the meaning of the IIPA and no evidence that disclosure of her identity harmed national security. Events in the courtroom today suggest all... More

One of the most intelligent of talk show hosts and a Chciago favorite of mine, Milt Rosenberg has a most insighftul Question and Answer interview with Harvard Professor Harvey mansfield, author of the new book Manliness. Well—recommended. Just click here and listen. Ed Lasky  ... More

While the Walt/Mearsheimer paper has been roundly condemned in America as shoddily researched, factually incorrect, immoral and anti—Semitic, the rest of the world seems to have greeted the paper with equanimity or support. Now it seems as if one British Member of Parliament and the European... More

Look what America has to look forward to in the Sunday New York Times It may be a first: a condom package on the cover of The New York Times Magazine. This is what will greet readers this Sunday, highlighting an inside feature by Russell Shorto. The bright red package carries the cover line 'The... More

The State of California is finally going to stop racially discriminating in awarding Caltrans contracts for highway construction. Reluctantly complying with a ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, over five billion dollars in projects over the next five years will trate contactors of all... More

At The American Spectator, my friend Lawrence Henry writes about a very serious subject in his own inimitable style. Having labored mightily over analysis of the revolt of the generals, I have to tip my hat to Larry, who goes at problem from a different angle and explains things so elegantly and... More

As American women get fatter, the sizes they wear get smaller. Not the actual waistlines, but the size number assigned to it. Kate M. Jackson of the Boston Globe reports: While Americans have statistically gotten larger, women's clothing has gotten smaller —— that is, if the numbers on... More

In politics, timing is everything. From my perspective, Patrick Kennedy's timing could not be better. We are in for a treat as the mid—term elections loom in half a year. The GOP's opportunity has arrived. Cynthia McKinney's reaction to the obvious and blatant favoritism enjoyed by Patrick... More

The relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States remains the bedrock of both nations' foreign policies. Though differences will always be present, the two countries treat each other with basic respect. Nothing illustrates this fact better than the news today that by the end of this... More

Never underestimate the powers of greed and corruption in international affairs and the United Nations. According to Mitchell Prothero of Fortune Magazine, The car bomb assassination of a former Prime Minister Hariri of Lebanon, which led to the expuslsion of Syrian forces, may have been linked to... More

Malawi takes money from the EU to build a highway, and then names it after racist Marxist tyrant Robert Mugabe of next door Zimbabwe, the BBC reports. Mugabe remains persona non grata in both the EU and the United States. Mugabe, because of his  land confiscations and terrorizing of farmers,... More

Israel's Channel 10 has broadcast a detailed video tour, via computer simulation, of the Dimona facilities where Israel has produced its stockpile of roughly 200 nuclear bombs. It is stunning in its technical detail. Link to the English—captioned Youtube video here. It is... More

Iraq the Model has been a reliable commentator on the evolution of that country's government.  Here is an excerpt from its latest analysis. The Iraqi constitution is referenced in Para. 2.  Anyone wishing to read that remarkable document can go here.  We're almost there... The... More

Captain Ed notes that we escaped a predictable propaganda snare by the French when the jury denied Zacharias Moussaoui his death penalty. The French government is requesting his transfer to their custody, ostensibly to be near his poor mother. Had he received a capital sentence, an... More

The New York Times has broken the news to its readers that France's anti—American foppish Prime Minister has big troubles. He has has plenty of company among leaders who bashed Bush for fun and political profit. Schroeder loses and disgraces himself with Russian Energy deal; now it looks as... More

I find it very revealing that Al—Jazeerah would rather not inform, or should I say admit to, the west that every year an average of six million African Muslims willingly trade in their faith in Mohammad for a chance to know the love of Jesus Christ. And those are just the conversions we now... More

In 1952, Whittaker Chambers wrote in his classic autobiography Witness this on the subject of espionage: There was little about political espionage, it seemed to me, than an intelligent man, who the forces, factors and general direction of history in our time, could not arrive at by using... More

The Christian Science Monitor reports that Congressman Curt Weldon may be in trouble.  His opponent, Joseph Sestak, has raised almost half a million dollars after an urgent appeal by John Kerry to his 3—million—strong email list. Joe Sestak is ... yet another member of Bill... More

Where are our professors when their colleagues in Iran are being abused? Professors in America have the luxury to speak freely on any subject whatsoever, and have stated that this protected freedom is a core principle of education. They have the luxury to protest against America, to boycott... More

This translationа of a televised conversation reveals a rare glimpse into the outlook of Muslim scholars who are concerned about Christianity's growth. The invited guest is Sheikh Ahmad Al Katani; the president of The Companions Lighthouse for the Science of Islamic Law in Libya, which is an... More

On second thought, maybe one's enough.... The BBC reports: Wife 'beheads husband' in Karachi  Police in the Pakistani city of Karachi say a woman beheaded her husband and chopped up his body after he announced plans to take a fourth wife. Officers said Majeeda Khatoon killed her husband... More

Once again, key persons in the Arab world are offended by cartoons.  This time it is Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi.  Why is the crusty dictator angry?  Sofia News Agency reports that Tripoli was "offended and disappointed" by a series of caricatures drawn by Bulgarian... More

Contributor Rick Moran is following U—93 at the box office, and provides commentary. The big test will be the opening of Mission Impossible III this weekend.   More

"Al Qaeda Mastermind Captured in Afghanistan" Ed Lasky   5 03 06 More

"Guilty Plea for Investigators of House Democrat" Ed Lasky  5 03 06 More

For CNN this item seems a Monty Python piece — "something completely different." Anything positive about Iraq! But then, they get to fling the "cowboy" label. I wonder why that term occurred to them? I bet that he gets specifically targeted after this story gets out in Iraq. If he's... More

French Prime Minister De Villepin is engulfed in scandalous allegations. Colin Randall of the New York Sun reports: Engulfed by scandal and fighting to save his job, the French prime minister made an emotional outburst in parliament yesterday, portraying himself as the victim of a "shameful" smear... More

Our liberal friends like to think of themselves as good people and their liberalism as the natural extension of their goodness. In this, however, they are woefully self—deceived. Rather than being an expression of human goodness, liberalism is the exact opposite. Envy, bitterness, anger,... More

Inevitably, the generation which won World War II, the "greatest generation," is passing. Our connection to them is profound. The world we inhabit was not only saved, but shaped by them and their struggle. Our contributor Matt May writes a moving tribute to his grandfather, a Marine. We must... More

In the midst of worldwide alarm about Iranian nuclear weapons, Ex—CIA chief James Woolsey has suggested a simple solution: blocking Iran's import of refined petroleum supplies. Iran has plenty of oil and gas, but few refineries. Blockading refined oil products might therefore bring down... More

If the United States attacks Iran's bomb factories in Natanz and Isfahan, will Iran's fanatics sic their terrorist proxies on us? Ahmadinejad has promised to do so. And he has the track record to make it sound real. Hezbollah would be his terrorist attack dog. Frontpage Magazine has an excellent... More

Ray Robison, who has major work on the Harmony Database translation project is going to be posting less on his eponymous website Ray Robison. The reason is one to celebrate rather than mourn: he is writing a book on the translations. Follow the link above and leave a comment in the comments... More

Israel's Haaretz publishes a dishonest article portraying John McCain as moving away from Israel. Perhaps this isаappropriate for what is considered Israel's version of the New York Times. Senator John McCain marks a swing in policy from the Republican right to the middle of the map, close to... More

What is it with D.C. federal judges and their inappropriate extra—judicial statements? We have already noted the unseemliness, not to say unethical behavior, of FISA Court Judges speaking to reporters about matters before them.  Now we have Judge Hogan of the U.S. Court of Appeals... More

We have previously suggested that Jacques Chirac and his shark—like sidekick Villepin deliberately provoked the assault on the Bush presidency by Val Plame and Joe Wilson, by planting a plainly forged "Niger uranium document" with then—SecState Colin Powell. We used the phony Niger... More

Bill Keller unburdened himself on the subject of leaks and accountability at Opinionjournal.com this morning. Hugh Hewitt makes mincemeat of the muddled meditations at Hughhewitt.com. Ed Lasky   5 02 06 More

Once again, people do not see the connection between prisons and crime rates.Ed Lasky   5 02 06 More

The New York Times works itself up into blinding self—righteousness today, editorializing about the Uno de Mayo general strike. It slurs and cries "shame" at those who do not get misty—eyed at the sight of children skipping school ("assimilation—minded moms, dads and children")... More

European Parliament officials have been hard at work investigating the CIA's efforts to round up terrorists in Europe. Intent on bringing America to justice, the 46—member parliamentary committee of inquiry led by Socialist Italian MEP Claudio Fava, stated this in its latest report: The CIA... More

Right across our southern border, Mexicans joined in the spirit of the May Day and its American march for illegal immigrant "rights."  And, dear reader, before you get too excited that Mexicans feel that US citizens who move there from  bringing wealth and jobs should have rights and... More

At 10 AM on the West Coast, the first conclusion can be drawn from the "day without immigrants" experience. Traffic today was unusually light this morning. So it is obvious that illegals are the reason we have bad traffic on the freeways. They stay at home and we breeze to work. Freeway traffic... More

On Sunday's Meet the Press, host Tim Russert had a number of guests on his show to discuss oil prices, including the respected Petroleum Economist Daniel Yergin. Russert made a real buffoon of himself when he betrayed his ignorance of the basic concept of supply and demand. Here is the unbelievable... More

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell resurrects the old 'not enough troops for Iraq' complaint today, much to the delight of war critics.  He has the obvious ligitmacy of actually having been in a President's war cabinet at one time. Powell now maintains that he had raised the case for more... More

We are well accustomed to the practice of the New York Times to hypocritically and cynically accept paid advertisements from the most nefarious of sources. The anti—Semitic Council for the National Interest and the genocidal Sudanese government are just the latest incarnations of this... More

Jonathan Strong describes himself as "a legal non—citizen worker in the United States who has followed the laws, jumped the hurdles, and obeyed the regulations." He has some choice words for those demonstrating today: Not so long ago on this day we would see Soviet tanks, missiles, aircraft,... More

After awarding Kofi Annan a $500,000 Dubai Prize, a German is given top post at UN. The New York Sun reports the awful details. United Nations officials yesterday were adamant that no exchange of favors was involved in awarding an appointment to a top Turtle Bay position to a man who had just... More

The Army Times brings us news of the passing of Michael Novosel, who served in WW II and earned the Medal of Honor in Vietnam. You have to read his story to believe it. I am frankly in awe of the man. What a life! Can you imagine the wonderful movie that could be made about him? Jim Tice... More

China Challenges draws our attention to a possible sign of hope in China. A survivor of one of the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre is to receive official payment for the death. The BBC reports: A Chinese mother whose son died in the aftermath of the 1989 pro—democracy protests has... More

Laina Farhat—Holzman writes an interesting column in the Santa Cruz Sentinel on the resurgence of "losers" in the realm of activism today. She eschews the terms "victim" and "victimology" in commenting on the way in which losers seek to wrap themselves in a righteous crusade for redress.... More