Breaking: Iraqi Parliament names Kurd as President...

Speed of Thought links and comments on the story.

"Thanking parliament, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader Mr Talabani said it was a step towards a free, democratic Iraq after long years of dictatorship. His appointment is a major political victory for Iraq's Kurdish community, which suffered greatly under Saddam Hussein."

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More on the "Crack-up"

Last night I posted a commentary of Patrick Hynes' recent post on the Libertarian v. Conservative "schism".

John Hawkins at Right-Wing News offers his thoughts on the matter.

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Ex-President Carter miffed at being left behind...

Miserable failure and Nobel "Booby" Prize winner, "Jimmah" Carter was left off the delegation list of U.S. officials heading to Vatican City for the funeral of Pope John Paul II. This was NO oversight. Both the President and the Vatican have plenty of reason for dissing the Peanut Farmer, as the Washington Prowler column in The American Spectator reports:

"Carter claimed a kinship with the Catholic priest, though it isn't clear that the Vatican thought so highly of Carter's diplomatic skills, particularly after he left office. Carter was often the wrong side of the political fence when it came to elections and policies in Latin America, where John Paul II devoted a great deal of time in the 1980s stamping out the Marxist "Liberation theology" movement. At one point in 1979, the Vatican sought assistance from the Carter Administration State Department to limit the travels of U.S. Maryknoll missionaries to Central American countries, where they were teaching and preaching Liberation Theology alongside like-minded Latin American priests.

"The other thing that people forget is that Carter has treated President Bush very badly. He has openly criticized the President in a manner that President Clinton has not," says a Bush administration source. "He has traveled around the world bad-mouthing this president and this country's policies. I would be surprised if a single person gave a thought to including him in the delegation."

What goes around, comes around, Jimmy. Now go build some more houses and stop embarrassing this country.

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Is it just me?

Or does this Sony SDR-3X robot look a little too much like "Twiki" from the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century TV show?

You know, the little bugger who used to go "Bidi-bidi-bidi" and make saucy comments about Erin Gray's ass?

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The GOP "Crack-up": Another Perspective...

OK, I've written in the past about all the debating back and forth between various factions in the current Conservative coalition as to who's betraying core principles and who's most responsible for electing Republicans and who's gonna be sorry if this group or that group suddenly says, "That's it, I'm picking up my marbles and going home".

Most of the criticism lately has been coming from the direction of the Libertarians. Patrick Hynes of Ankle-Biting Pundits takes a swipe back in their direction. Getting right to the heart of the matter, Hynes makes some very good points.

"I have worked on dozens of Republican campaigns for high public office and never once, not one time, did I ever sit in a strategy session dedicated to formulating an appeal to the libertarian wing of the party. Conversely, I have never been on a campaign in which we did not devise strategies to communicate with and recruit conservatives, whether they be pro-lifers, anti-taxers, guns rights folks, or Christians. What IÂ’m saying is that if the libertarians walk away from the table, the party will be a whole lot less principled, but weÂ’re not likely to lose a lot of votes."

Hynes is quick to point out that the kind of "don't take us for granted" whining is also exhibited from time to time by other factions in the coalition, particularly the Religious Right. But he explains that, considering the number of votes they control, they at least have the clout to make the "ground shake" when they want to be heard. To that point, he summarizes what he feels Libertarians need to do if they really want to make their presence felt. It's one thing to sit back and huff and puff about principles, but to make a real impact, they need to do more than talk.

"[S]o Ryan Sager, Glenn Reynolds and a few other disaffected libertarians decide to walk out on conservatives? I love those guys, and I, for one, would be sad to see the libertarian-right split from the coalition. But I must say, the movement will go on...

...The libertarian-right needs to organize. Hold monthly meetings of like-minded groups. Call it the Alliance for Limited Government. Or something. Force would-be members of Congress to sign a free-market, civil libertarian pledge before they can earn an endorsement or procure choice lists. These are the fundamentals of political organization. And if the libertarian right were to put them to use, the next time they start talking about a “crack-up,” GOP leaders will sit up straight and take notice.

As I've said before, the fact that these different ideas can be even up for discussion is a credit to the current state of the Republican party. It's what got them in power and what will keep them there if they can keep their eyes on the big picture. And it's something Democrats only wish they had.

Hat Tip to Lorie Byrd at Polipundit

UPDATE: this morning (9:35am 4/6/05): Here

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Even Howard Kurtz reads "Captain's Quarters"...

WaPo chronicles Ed Morrissey's coverage of AdScam.

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"Plans? We don't need no stinking plans!"

The Hill is reporting that many Dems are up in arms over the latest Democracy Corps memo, penned by James Carville and Stan Greenberg, that had the nerve to - get this - actually suggest that Democrats propose some kind of alternative plan to fix Social Security. Gasp! Are they joking?

The language in the Carville-Greenberg memo was frank: “Why has the public not taken their anger out on congressional Republicans and the president? We think the answer lies with voters’ deeper feelings about the Democrats who appear to lack direction, conviction, values, advocacy or a larger public purpose.”

Al From and Bruce Reed, leaders of the Democratic Leadership Council, also have called on Democrats to craft a vision outside of opposing GOP ideas.

The Carville-Greenberg memo infuriated Democrats on Capitol Hill. “They’re all wrong,” a Senate Democratic aide said. “Republicans are fleeing the president’s plan.”

A House Democratic leadership staffer said, “We’re in a good position.” The staffer pointed to a recent USA Today headline on Bush’s travels around the country to sell his Social Security plan: “30 days, 100-plus events, scoreless.”

Good idea guys, sit on the ball in on your own 1-yard line. In the meantime the Democrats, once again, reinforce the image in the minds of voters that their party offers no new ideas, no solutions and no possibility of reform. The party of the Status Quo. The party of DE-FENSE. The party of "no".

House Democrats say they will have an alternative plan, but the timing of a proposalÂ’s release is unclear. They also have not made firm decisions on whether it will call for a revamp of Social Security.

Remember the last Democrat that kept saying to voters "I have a plan" over and over but never managed to come up with any? Well, Bush is in the White House and that guy is still shuttling back and forth between Capitol Hill and Beacon Hill.

Hat Tip: The Roth Report

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And now, the "Vast LEFT-Wing Conspiracy"...

The WSJ Online reviews the book The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy by National Review's Byron York. Some highlights from the review:

In the months following the 9/11 attacks, there emerged an activist movement of left-wing loyalists, Democratic operatives and deep-pocketed financiers all united under one aim--to defeat President Bush--and all confident that history was turning in their direction. Mr. York, the White House correspondent for National Review, gives us an engaging account of the partisan passions that made this "the biggest, richest, and best organized movement in American political history" and that ultimately proved its undoing...

...Beneath the patina of confidence, however, the left-wing conspiracy often seems pitiable, as desperate as it is determined. Above all, its members are angry--at the perceived injustice of the 2000 presidential election, at the prospect of long-term Republican governance, at John Kerry's inept campaigning. Even, it appears, at being called angry.

It is the anger that does them in. Resting his case on much original reporting, Mr. York convincingly shows that the activist left mistook its base--2.5 million strong and anti-Bush to the (mostly white) man--for the mainstream electorate, as if fury and contempt were the only logical responses to the Bush presidency. Reciting the mantra that it was "too big to fail," the left wing bought into the conspiracy of its own vastness. An inability to connect with swing voters followed, and electoral defeat.

Especially trenchant is Mr. York's analysis of the Center for American Progress. Convinced, mistakenly, that modern liberalism's problem was its deficit of sound bites, the think tank gave short shrift to compelling policy ideas. A disgruntled Democratic source--the book is densely populated with this species--offers an apt postmortem: "Just getting bigger amplifiers doesn't make the music any better."

I need to get a copy of this book. Based on my readings of York's work over at NR, it should be a good one.

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The Canadian "AdScam" scandal continues to unfold...

Captain Ed is ALL over this one.

Check back with him for further updates. Go, Captain, Go (apologies to "the Wiggles")

UPDATES:
10:04
Winds of Change has an excellent summary of the situation if you need to get caught up. And he's just been added to "The Pajamahadeen" section of the blogroll.

12:35pm
Also, be sure to check Small Dead Animals, who is also following.

2:42pm
Howard Kurtz at the Washington Post writes about Captain Ed!

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Quote of the Day...

"Over the past 30 years, John Bolton has advertised himself as an unadulterated nationalist and opponent of multilateralism. He's not a healthy skeptic of the United Nations but widely known as a committed destructive opponent, an ideological lone ranger."

- Former Ambassador Jonathan Dean, Sr. U.S. Arms Control Negotiator for the Carter administration (and opponent of Bolton's nomination as UN Ambassador).

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Iraqis Creating Ethnically-Balanced Govt.

Despite all the nay-saying on the Left. The Iraqi representatives assembled in Baghdad are putting into place a government the allows the three very different factions - Shi'ites, Sunnis & Kurds.

They appointed a Sunni as their Speaker of the National Assembly, despite the fact that they represent a small minority. And they seem poised to elect a Kurdish President and Shi'ite Prime Minister, with the two Vice-Presidential positions given to a Sunni and a Shi'ite.

"I think we really have achieved a lot. We have witnessed that the number of [terrorist] attacks has been reduced by a third, and I think it will continue to go down," said Mr. [Adnan] Ali [a Dawa party spokesman], speaking by telephone from Baghdad.

"The more the political process takes place and assures the Iraqis it is genuine and not a game, I think this will push Iraqis to believe this democratic process is true," he said.

Why doesn't this good news make the front page of the NY Times? Ah forget it, that's a whole other story.

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Happy 9th Birthday to Ryan!!

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I Couldn't Resist...

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Blogswarm Alert! Blogswarm Alert!

Michelle Malkin has a comprehensive post on all the latest concerning the big corruption scandal up in Canada, and that governments desperate efforts to seal off any information about it to its population - with a publication ban that includes blogs.

All is not so rosey with our neighbor to the North. Some Canadian bloggers are defying the information blockade. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: more on this story here.

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Like My New Doo?

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Oh Great...

Pedro Martinez gives up a three-run homer in the first inning.

Talk about getting off on the wrong foot in your first start as a Met.

AAARRRRRGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!

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I want my AL TV...

This is a good one. Al Gore has unveiled his new national network which will debute August 1 (no coincidence that this is the same date MTV was launched, I’m sure). It’s called “Current”.

Hmmm. Apparently the inventor of the Internet was so inspired by the flow of creativity in that medium that he plans to try and suck in the 18-34 year old demographic with a television network designed to be just as interactive.

The first national network created by, for and with an 18-34 year-old audience, Current will offer 24 hours of programming in a unique, short-form content format when it premieres August 1. Current will invite audiences to move beyond their roles as viewers to become active collaborators, encouraging them to help shape the network's content and fulfill its mission -- to serve as a TV platform where the voices of young adults can be heard.

"The Internet opened a floodgate for young people whose passions are finally being heard, but TV hasn't followed suit. Young adults have a powerful voice, but you can't hear that voice on television ... yet," said Gore, who serves as the network's chairman of the board. "We intend to change that with Current, giving those who crave the empowerment of the Web the same opportunity for expression on television. We want to transform the television medium itself, giving a national platform to those who are hungry to help create the TV they want to watch."

Okay, Al, very interesting. Of course they already have outlets on television for no-talent broadcasting wannabe’s. They’re called “public access channels”. Have you ever seen those? They’re all pretty much unwatchable.

Of course, I’m sure the “unwritten” talent evaluation policy will be “no Conservatives need apply”.

Hat tip: Drudge

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Democrat Woes...

Well, weÂ’ve got a lot of stuff on the Democrats today. (And see UPDATE below)

First up, Donald Lambro in the Washington Times reports on the new round of in-fighting between the folks who brought you Bill Clinton, the Democrat Leadership Council (DLC) and the Moonbat.org-controlled Leftist kooks. Once again, the DLC is warning its membership that the party needs to appeal to voters outside their base if they ever expect to win. And once again, the criticism fell on deaf ears:

"I can't tell the difference between the positions the DLC puts forward and Republican policy," said Jack Blum, counsel for the liberal Americans for Democratic Action.

Hokay, guys. Whatever. Keep burying your head in your copy of Das Kapital, weÂ’ll keep winning.

Also, once again showing their tin ear for politics, Democrats refused to make even so much as an acknowledgement of the Pope in their weekly radio address.

"We had a plan in place for a national radio address that would have highlighted the Pope's stand on social justice and equality for all," says a Democratic National Committee staffer. "They wouldn't do it. They said it would look like pandering, that it wasn't helpful to their agendaÂ…

"This is another example of where we just don't get it," says a Democratic pollster in New York. "We knew the Pope was dying. We knew we had an opportunity, and we just ignore it and go ahead and act like the Democrats all those Red Staters think we are. We attack the Republicans for trying to save the Schiavo woman, and we ignore the Pope's passing. Somehow I know this is just going to come back and bite us in the ass."

Reminds me of this little exchange from the movie Jaws:

Mayor Vaughn: “I don't think either of you are familiar with our problems.”
Hooper: “I think that I am familiar with the fact that you are going to ignore this particular problem until it swims up and bites you on the ass.”

And as if the Dems don’t have enough problems, John Fund writes this morning about a new opportunity for the GOP based on some freshly released data about Election 2004: “Bush Democrats”?:

"Only five Republican House members currently sit in districts where Mr. Bush won less than 47% of the presidential vote last year: two in Connecticut, two in Iowa and one in Delaware. But 31 House Democrats represent districts where John Kerry won less than 47%. That means Republicans have many more opportunities to pick up seats in favorable political terrain as Democratic members leave the House. No one expects Democrats to hold the seat of Ike Skelton of Missouri when he leaves office; President Bush won 64% of his district's votes. Ditto for the district of Gene Taylor of Mississippi, where Mr. Bush won 68%."

ThereÂ’s a LOT more data so check out the whole column here.

UPDATE 11:30am

Ron Brownstein frets in the LA Times over the fact that - in today's political environment - the GOP holds all the cards:

"The most immediate political danger is that Republicans can portray Democrats as obstructionists, a dangerous label in the "red" Bush states. The larger problem is that the Democrats' inability to sustain attention on their ideas encourages a public sense that they have none. In the latest poll from Democracy Corps, a project of leading Democratic consultants, Republicans held a crushing 30-percentage-point advantage when voters were asked which party knows what it stands for."

Democrats don't seem to know what they stand for, either.

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PLAY BALL!!!!!!

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This Is REALLY scary...

This, my friends is a photo of Jessica Lange. Yes, THAT Jessica Lange.

Look, I can appreciate that it's been more than twenty years since this woman gave male America reason to stand up and salute in "Tootsie" but - MY GOD - what the hell happened?

She looks like Jack Nicholson in drag!

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