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UN peacekeepers help smuggle gold. The UN is the problem, not the solution.

Suicide bombers in Iraq are mostly foreigners, waging war against democracy in Iraq. We already knew that.

Saudi Arabia bans any non-Muslim religious symbols.

Risky US home loans rocked world markets. When America sneezes, the world catches a cold. The companies which made the loans were stupid, and the people who couldn't pay them were stupid. Simple analysis.

War Czar suggests draft is a possibility. It's ridiculous that our gigantic standing army can't fight a 5 year insurgency. I think the problem is how the military works rotations - apparently soldiers in Korea, Germany, and elsewhere are never rotated into Iraq. That makes no sense to me.

Animal rights murderers attempt to blow up researcher. This is criminal, not terrorism. This is attempted murder directed at a specific person, not politically motivated violence that has no regard for the identity of the victims.

Americans reject higher taxes to fix infrastructure. Cut spending instead.

Texas parents suing over moment of silence. This is idiotic, and should be summarily dismissed.

Kids strip-searched at day camp. Somebody probably got his rocks off. I find it hard to believe that strip-searching kids is the only way to get results. But maybe it was.

Telluride, Co. looses ski business after passing a resolution to impeach Bush and Cheney.

It seems pretty clear that Democrats have already abandoned the middle. They're each trying to out socialist the other.

Ron Paul distances himself from supporters claiming voter fraud.

Hillary panders to the labor unions. Naturally.

Space hotel targeted for 2012 opening. That sounds too soon. I don't know of any hotel that was planned to open before the method of traveling to it, and getting building materials and supplies, was in place.

Space Shuttle has minor damage to heat shield.

"Starve the beast" doesn't work because borrowed money feeds it just as well as revenues.

The world bank is helping to finance Iran.

States are doing the illegal immigration work that Washington won't do.

Newt recommends we adopt free market health care. That Newt's a smart guy.

Ethanol subsidies make corn our most subsidized crop, and translate into a tax on food.

Lawrence Kudlow explains that middle America is doing just fine despite the sub-prime lending mistakes driving down the market.

5 myths about a jittery stock market.

Bernanke's first test.

Australian PM Howard warns Maliki of a pull-out if Iraq doesn't quickly make political progress.

Washington Time commentary paints a bleak picture of the future of Iraq. The Iraqi government we raced to help install has no interest in being an ally to the US or in unifying the country. Unless we're willing to topple that government and start over by building democratic institutions from the ground up, assisting democratically elected mayors and councils, then governors and legislatures, then finally a national government, Iraq will almost certainly be a failure. In that case, our last mission in Iraq should be to wipe out al Qaeda.

When left-wing bloggers started discussing forming a labor union, where they planning to bargain with the government for benefits? Since this would increase government power, the goal of both parties, this just might work. I prefer they just stay out on strike.

Commentator explains that global warming skeptics don't work for free. Neither do they roll in dough like true believers. The US spends $4 billion on man-made global warming research. Skeptics are cut out of that money.

Dick Morris says that Newt's time to jump in Presidential race may come in fall. Funny, that's just what Newt's been saying.

The military acknowledges the very real differences between men and women, but backwards. Women don't have to meet as rigorous of standards to join, which is ridiculous. Then they are treated the same even though they have never been made to perform the same.

Excellent essay discussing how anti-American Americans get away with helping the enemy.

Open borders advocates will get their way one step at a time. Not if we crack down on employers and gate-crashers go home.

Romney wins Iowa straw poll. Huckabee comes in second. I'm happy for FairTax supporter Huckabee.

This doesn't look like a dolphin tail for divers to me.

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President Bush announces plans for stepped up enforcement of existing laws against employing illegal aliens. This enforcement is still minuscule, and will have virtually no effect on illegal immigration. Employers who depend on illegal immigration are worried. Good. They can either switch to hiring legal workers or get busted.

President Bush signs new law expanding his power to wiretap suspected terrorists without a warrant.

UN calls for greater UN presence in Iraq, but the UN will resist the move. The UN resists itself?

Divorce lawyers using easy-pass records (which use RFID chips) to find cheaters. So you think that you have nothing to lose in the coming surveillance society? Everything you do, everywhere you go, when you go there, where you come from and where you subsequently go will be analyzed and used against you.

Israeli highway through west bank will separate Israelis from Palestinians to restrict terrorists.

Thanks to ethanol subsidies, milk price is at an all time high.

Schools are discouraging students from taking top level math courses to improve their grade averages.

Drug kingpin identified by voice-print after cosmetic surgery.

Using data mining to effectively fight crime.

Canada to build arctic military bases in response to Russia's aggressive claims on the arctic. Denmark responds as well.

Reason explains why we have to change how we fund infrastructure in order to keep it from crumbling.

Reason takes on farm subsidies.

Almost 1/2 of American murder victims are black.

The courts continue to strike down laws attempting to ban video games, but ban-happy legislatures continue to try.

The WSJ website could become free. Let's hope so.

Democrats debate gay issues. I think the conservative bloggers will make hay with this all the way up until the election in Nov., 08.

New design for fusion reactors may make them feasible.

Pat Buchanan sums up the folly of our political policy of titanic, liberal government, support by both parties. America is already starting to pay the piper for titanic government, yet the 2 parties grow government more each and every year, and supposedly intelligent people vote for them knowing full well the consequences will be the destruction of our country.

Boortz identifies the failings of the new ethics reform bill. This bill is obviously not much better than before, but it is better. More on the unethical Congress.

I would be shocked if there was only one al Qaeda cell operating in the US.

Economist explains serious problems with the IPCC.

Mark Steyn explains how wealthy terrorist financiers use foreign courts to shut down publishing of books that expose them.

The House votes to raise taxes on oil companies and to cut taxes on more expensive, alternative fuels. We'll all pay more at the pump because of this, and the oil companies may just take their business to a business friendly country.

Michael Yon reports that al Qaeda is a serious enemy in Iraq.

Robert Putnam has discovered that diversity hurts communities, contrary to politically correct pronouncements.

Walking to the store produces more carbon that driving.

Why are taxpayers paying for a Muslim school?

Does the man who grabbed Barry Bonds' record breaking home run ball owe the IRS $200,000 in taxes?

Hate crimes ruling abrogates the need for hate. Any crime against a protected minority is a hate crime. All hate crime laws are bogus.

Home schooled children average higher schools on college entrance exams.

French teen arrested for translating Harry Potter book into French before it is released in France.

Jonah Goldberg explains how progressives destroyed the word progressive, then stole and destroyed the world liberal, and are now back to using the word progressive.

Thomas Sowell says the collapsing bridge highlights how our incentive system for politicians who spend our money is screwed up. New building buys votes, but maintaining existing structures does not.

Michelle Malkin discusses the exposed New Republic blogger.

Political correctness is taking the danger out of boyhood, making weaker men.

Terrorists are teaming with drug cartels and piggybacking off the illegal alien industry. Legalizing drugs will stop this. The war on drugs just make the drug cartels richer and more powerful. It's interesting to note that these reports are from 2005 - i.e. Bush and Congress was well aware of this when they were pushing their amnesty bill.

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Thanks to a century of asinine deficit spending by our government, instead of keeping spending low and the budget balanced, debt purchased by the Chinese, the Chinese are threatening to dump American dollars in a nuclear, economic move to prevent trade sanctions because of the predatory pricing of their currency. Our government, both parties, are to blame for putting us in this abominable position. Our government knew damn good and well this was going to happen, yet they put in this position anyway.

Bush is finally going to enforce existing laws against hiring illegal immigrants. What a novel idea. Maybe he finally read my email or this blog. If he does it right (which I doubt he will), he'll conduct several highly publicized raids all around the country every day, and withing weeks or at most months, most gate crashers will have gone home on their own. Others will stop coming. We can round up the rest and deport them.

Court orders New York City to release records on protesters arrested at the 2004 Republican National Conventions.

British foot and mouth disease outbreak may have been caused by sabotage.

US deaths from Iranian made explosives reaches an all-time high. Those talks with Iran are producing the wrong results, just as predicted.

US troops kill 30 terrorists. Even if these people weren't terrorists exactly, they sure sound like supporters. Sadr City has been supporting the Mahdi Army murderers for years, and needs to be cleaned out.

Koreas to hold summit.

US freezes assets of charity that supports Hamas. This is what Bush's latest executive order was all about.

Apparently thrilled with $20 billion in new weapons from the infidel, Saudi Arabia expresses support for an independent Palestinian state. Maybe we should have bribed them with weapons long ago.

San Diego firefighters are suing for sexual harassment because they were forced to attend a gay pride parade. Why in the world would firefighters be forced to attend a gay pride campaign? This is nuts.

The US treasury secretary says that the US tax system is hurting the country. Duh! Support the FairTax.

US appeals court rules that terminally ill patients cannot use experimental drugs. This ruling is stupid, and it will cost people their lives.

Maybe Texas' 15 year drought is over. No doubt Al Gore will try to twist this into bad news.

European immigrant reports that the left helps America's enemies with it's personal attacks on President Bush. He says the world's opinion of the US is a direct reflection of those attacks. This is so obvious that it shouldn't need to be said, but liberals won't listen anyway.

Reason says that abortion should be left to the states. Since the Constitution doesn't enumerate any power to regulate abortion, that's pretty obvious.

All Americans should be relieved to learn that Sen. Stevens from Alaska, the king of pork, took all that money from us for the public good. I feel better already. What wonderful altruism, taking money by force from American citizens for the public good as defined by Sen. Stevens and some reporter. I'm pretty sure I would could have made better use of my money for myself than Sen. Stevens.

Rep. Hoekstra (R-MI) blasts the New York Times for exposing our security secrets and misinforming the public about the program and the need for warrantless surveillance of suspected terrorists.

Bush's poll numbers are rising. Democrats are starting to pay the price for overreaching.

Ice acts as a gene bank for bacteria.

Barry Bonds sets new home run record. That's finally over with.

Newt Gingrich takes on bureaucracy in schools, using Detroit as an example.

John Stossel hopes Wisconsin will adopt socialized medicine before so that the rest of the nation can see how terrible it is. Me too.

Prosecutor Mat Heck Faces Charges

Prosecutor Mat Heck Faces Charges

Federal investigators take exception with business as usual in the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office

by Mark Luedtke

A three year long investigation by the US Office of the Special Council produced 9 charges of violations of the Hatch Act against Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias Heck and 6 charges against his executive assistant, Greg Flannagan. Mr. Heck declined to be interviewed because this is an active case.

The Office of the Special Council (OSC) investigates federal officials who use their offices for partisan political purposes. In the past, Republicans accused Bill Clinton of violating the Hatch Act by providing sleepovers in the Lincoln bedroom and access to the President in White House coffee meetings. Today, Democrats accuse Karl Rove and other Bush administration officials of Hatch Act violations because of PowerPoint presentations detailing Republican campaign plans.

According to the OSC, Mat Heck is covered by the Hatch Act because his office received and administered grants from three federal programs, and some of Mr. Heck's employees, including Mr. Flannagan, were paid out of those grants. Both deny they are covered by the Hatch Act, but the OSC's website identifies many state and local officials who have been punished for violating the Act.

Mr. Heck's charges include:

• Influencing elections by pressuring applicants to attend Democratic fundraisers

• Influencing his own re-election campaigns by pressuring job applicants to support him

• Influencing his 2004 campaign by using Mr. Flannagan and others to gather signatures for his nominating petitions

• Influencing his 2004 reelection by pressuring Mr. Flannagan and others to attend Democratic fundraisers

• Using the Montgomery County Prosecutor's office website and newsletter to promote his re-election in 2004

• Influencing elections by pressuring his employees to volunteer for the Democratic party screening committee

• Influencing the 2004 Congressional election by allowing his name and official title to appear on a flier for Democratic candidate Jane Mitakides

Mr. Flannagan's charges are related, but include an email solicitation to all of Mr. Heck's employees from his prosecutor's office account and a charge that he used his office to help Mat Hecks' wife, Cindi, win an election for Municipal Court Judge in Vandalia. Both Mr. Heck and Mr. Flannagan deny the specific charges against them.

Even though these charges are not criminal, applying to an administrative court, both sides take them seriously. Montgomery County Democratic Party Chair Mark Owens blamed the charges on the Bush administration, claiming the charges were a partisan witch-hunt, but invoking the Bush administration is just to incite the Democratic base. A review of the OSC website illustrates that significant numbers of both Republicans and Democrats were recently prosecuted for Hatch Act violations.

But unlike other charges on the website, the OSC calls these charges “serious allegations”, and they warrant more space than most cases. Documented OSC penalties range from 10 days suspension to 6 months debarment from seeking government employment.

Mr. Heck does not deny the physical evidence against him: the website and newsletter announcing his re-election, administered by Mr. Flannagan, or the email from Mr. Flannagan soliciting volunteers from the prosecutor's office “to walk precincts and drop literature”. The defendants think using office resources and soliciting volunteers from Mr. Heck's employees is acceptable practice. And if they lose, the penalty imposed by the administrative court will be minor, but they will lose the ability to conduct business as usual, which is the real prize.

This case breaks down to a battle between business as usual local politics and democratic reform. Instead of changing his business practices, Mr. Heck chose to forgo federal funds. That's because business is great for Mat Heck. In office since 1992, he ran unopposed the last two elections. He undoubtedly expected no serious competition, if any, in 2008. Mr. Heck is the head of the National District Attorneys Association. His wife was recently elected Municipal Judge.

This case is less about violations of the Hatch Act than it is about the democratic process. Should incumbents be allowed to use their office resources, including their employees, for partisan political purposes?

Mat Heck, like any incumbent, gets a tremendous boost in partisan elections from natural mechanisms. His name is in the paper every week, if not more. He's invited to speak at events and hobnob with the rich and powerful simply because of his office. He has a record to run on, a record that every citizen can read in the papers on a weekly basis. He can call press conferences that inherently aid his ability to get reelected.

Isn't that enough of an advantage over any challenger? Should we allow incumbent politicians to also solicit money and time from their employees for their party, their campaign and other candidates? Our political system only works when voters have real choices. The deck is naturally stacked in favor of incumbents, and we shouldn't allow them to use the power of their offices to stack it further.

Crucial to this case is the difference between soliciting and coercion. Is solicitation fair to employees? Because of the power difference between an incumbent and his employees, isn't solicitation actually coercion? For the same reason, isn't discussing future political support with potential employees also coercion? If an employer solicited sex, that would be sexual harassment, and Mat Heck would prosecute. Why is it OK for politics? Isn't that political harassment?

I doubt Mat Heck does anything different than local politicians all around the country, but his success is testament to how well he does it. It'll be interesting to see if business as usual triumphs over democratic reform. Republicans are licking their chops, but Mat Heck has topped them for years. He'll probably do the same in 2008 even if he loses this case.

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Ban Alert: New York City is banning the use of certain words. I guess they never heard of the first amendment. This is the natural progress of liberalism and political correctness. Liberals have no respect for freedom.

Shiite militias killing each other in wake of British pullout of Basra. Lovely.

Georgia recovers missile fired from Russian jets.

Israeli army ousts Jewish settlers in the West Bank.

Britain requests release of Guantanamo prisoners who had been in UK, but are not citizens.

Congress stops probe into Jefferson's corruption charges at request of Justice Dept.

Publix to offer several antibiotics free. I thought that was against dumping laws, selling something for less than you pay for it. It seem Meijer has been offering free antibiotics for the better part of a year.

It's hot and humid. I bet it doesn't compare to the Chicago heat wave in the 90s.

Reason discusses the new energy bill that would raise energy prices.

The NYTimes is switching to free internet content. This dinosaur is evolving ever so slowly.

Editor for biggest paper in South Carolina tells us what we already know: Edwards is a big phony. He's right up there with John Kerry and Hillary Clinton.

NASA is working on nuclear missiles to deflect asteroids.

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Bush authors executive order allowing seizure of property for anybody working to undermine Lebanon's government. This order is similar to his previous order allowing seizures of property for groups supporting terrorists in Iraq, except this one is far more broad.

FBI raids home of former DOJ Attorney, looking for leaker of the classified wiretap program. I hope they catch the leaker.

Legislation targeting global warming would raise energy prices and hurt the economy. Duh!

The public is unaware of the threat to privacy from data sharing and the surveillance society. No kidding. It's happening so fast, and there's no coordinated effort to educate the public about the consequences.

Pentagon cannot account for 30% of weapons it had supplied to Iraqi security forces. Why would anybody think they could account for them? Our soldiers have better things to do in Iraq, like stay alive and kill our enemies, than following around Iraqis, keeping track of their weapons. This is why bureaucrats have no place in war.

Constructive talks between Israeli PM Olmert and Palestinian leader Abbas. I don't remember the heads of Israel and the Palestinians ever meeting without a third party before.

Russians erect giant cross to remember Stalin's purges. I wonder if this will stand for long.

Iran begins production of first fighter jet, reverse engineered from US jet. It appears to be a US trainer.

Economic concerns drive down oil prices.

Chertoff discusses specific terror plots and the threat of terrorism.

Slate article claims that US policy supported torture. I haven't read the linked article on the subject.

The American public is learning about the successes of the surge, because even the AP is reporting them.

Newsweek puts out a new form of global warming propaganda. This isn't a distortion of science, it's an attack on skeptics, incorrectly labeled deniers. This article doesn't mention that the funds going to promote the global warming con dwarf the funds of skeptics.

Reason on anti-Kelo legislation intended to stop imminent domain abuse.

Sarkozy has a melt down dealing with US photographers. Apparently he isn't used to the US press.

Presidential debate in Spanish. You have got to be kidding me. How stupid are Democrats? This will definitely push voters to Republicans.

Store owner loses lease because he doesn't speak Spanish. That's the free market in action, but it highlights how the market has been twisted by illegal immigration.

Loony left bloggers consider unionizing. That's so funny, I can hardly stand it.

Huckabee wants Congress to have same health care plan as Americans. What a novel idea. Congress being restricted by laws just like normal Americans.

Pot legalization advocates winning softball games in Washington, but not getting any legislation passed.

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The House also votes to expand the Commander in Chief's warrantless wiretapping powers. Democrats have been seriously exposed for the hypocrites they are. Since the Constitution grants the President power to wage war, which obviously includes collecting intelligence on the enemy, no legislation was necessary. This new legislation just expands Congress' power beyond Constitutional constraints and sets up a Constitutional showdown in the future.

House passes clean energy bill that cuts tax breaks for oil companies and promotes renewable energy. If this were to become law, it would immediately raise gasoline prices, encourage oil companies to take their jobs overseas, and it would continue to drive up energy prices by funding more expensive energy sources. This bill couldn't be more backwards.

US troops have killed the al Qaeda mastermind of the Golden Dome bombing. Hell, yeah.

Al Qaeda seems capable of making tapes and little else. Bush's success at defending America is lolling us to sleep.

The NYTimes reduces paper to standard size to cut costs.

A Drudge reports that Ron Paul won the Republican debate with 45% of the vote. Giuliani is second with 22%, and Romney third with 18%. ABC online poll has Ron Paul at 57%. Internet users love Ron Paul.

Republican debate in Iowa.

Democrats debate for loony left bloggers.

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House empowers special panel to investigate if Democrats stole controversial vote. This could turn into a big deal.

Senate passes bill expanding wiretapping powers. So much for all Democrats' bogus thunder and lightening about Bush wiretapping.

Diebold voting machines vulnerable to viruses. We need to have a paper trail.

The US is funding and arming former Sunni insurgents to help fight al Qaeda. As scary as this sounds, this is how insurgencies are defeated - by winning groups over 1 by 1, and getting them invested in the political process.

Pakistan opposition leader freed.

Reason on the UAW, the big 3 automakers, and health care.

Airlines are making money, but service sucks.

Discrepancies with email use and White House email policy. This is bound to be a pain in the ass to follow. You have to use different accounts depending on the content of the messages, even if you're writing to the same person. Can this be any less important?

4 years after we toppled Saddam, Iraq is still starving for electricity and clean water. There's no excuse for that failure. This happened because our government bureaucracies are so big and unaccountable that they failed to rebuild this critical infrastructure.

China bans reincarnation of Tibet's living Buddhas without permission from Chinese officials.

Heatwaves are longer in Europe than a century ago.

The Kos convention, attended by the Democratic presidential candidates, censors uniformed soldier and escorts him from the conference as he tried to address the surge to a panel.

The decline of civilization: collapsed bridge highlights sorry state of bridges in the US. I agree with the woman who said, "Bridges in America should not fall down."

NASA launches Mars Phoenix lander.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali describes Islam.

Democrats are invested in our defeat in Iraq. The author must be another reader.

Rudy Giuliani proposes tax breaks to stimulate competition, lowing the price of health care. While this is light years better than Democrats' socialist plans, it's still a big government solution. The solution to the health care problem is to adopt the FairTax, which would remove all the subsidies and tax complications that drive up the cost of health care, and to get the government completely out of the business of providing health care, further reducing the costs. Any role government plays in health care is bad for Americans.

Not learning from history, Democrats want to repeathe folly of raising taxes on the already highly taxed rich.

Ralph Peters has the numbers to prove that, despite the mainstream media's spotlight on the crimes of soldiers, we have the best behaved military in history, and they are orders of magnitude more law-abiding than the general population.

Author says Congress watered down the ethics bill. It does sound like an improvement, though, even if not much.

The implied threat in Russia's seemingly clownish claim of the North Pole.

Foreign countries have secret prisons that work with American officials.

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Author claims that increasing productivity leads to peace and prosperity. It sure didn't in Germany and Japan in the 30s. There's a little more to it than that. It's worked in the American model, a far more libertarian model, but not everywhere.

Bush's new middle east strategy seems to be one of containing Iran.

Swiss customs seizes equipment suspected of being bound for Iranian nuclear plant.

Armed robots patrolling Iraq.

3 men in small submersible discovered near cruise ships docked near Manhattan. It's good to know we can catch potential threats like that. Video.

US officials order bridge review. That sounds like federal officials. What roles does the federal government play in regulating bridges? I hope it's limited to interstate bridges and bridges on interstate highways. Of course, that's a lot of bridges.

District Court rules that Justice Department can't search Congressional offices because of separation of powers. I don't think separation of powers was ever intended to allow Congressmen to use the offices to commit and cover up crimes. I bet this gets appealed and overturned. It should. Our Congress is already dangerously unaccountable.

House Democrats incorrectly announce vote, but then Republicans refuse to vote again after Democrats offer vacate the first vote. Apparently this is the first time ever that a vote was stolen in the House, but since Democrats apologized and offered to do it again, I don't see the big deal. Both sides have legitimate claims on this issue. That may be a first.

Liberals are making a big deal about John Boehner possibly mentioning classified data - he claims he did not - but it just highlights the hypocrisy. Democrats do this all the time. The NYTimes publishes highly classified national security info all the time. Liberals love that, but they want Boehner's head on a stake.

Reason on intangible, human capital. Author says this is the greatest wealth of nations.

Only 3% of American approve of Congress' handling of the war in Iraq.

Democrats head to left-wing bloggers convention. We ought to get some deep insight into their socialist ideas. If the press does its job, this will really hurt the Democrats. Clinton to join Q&A session.

Newt says we are not winning the war on terror. In order to win the war on terror, we have to lower the price of oil. It's good to know Newt is reading this blog. If only the rest of the candidates would listen and understand what I'm saying.

Thomas Sowell thinks that Harry Reid's attempt to pull troops out of Iraq quickly was because Reid is afraid that Americans will realize the surge is working, which would be a disaster for Democrats. I guess Thomas Sowell is reading this blog as well.

Boortz has a fine rant about government spending. $22 billion is a lot of money. Looks like he's been reading this blog too.

Legislation protecting journalists from having to reveal confidential sources could dramatically undermine our confidential security programs, even more than at present.

Senate passes ethics reform bill. Democrats have fought against earmark reform since they took office, but this bill claims to contain earmark reform. I have no confidence that this bill really cleans up anything.

Georgia sheriff deals with illegal immigrants. Butler Co., Ohio's sheriff also takes a tough stand against illegal immigrants.

Georgia teen jailed over previously paid traffic ticket.

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Sunni arab bloc pulls out of Iraqi government.

Russia plants flag at North Pole in publicity stunt.

Bush exercises executive privilege, stopping Rove testimony.

Sierra Leone rebels convicted of heinous crimes.

It's funny how the press hasn't covered William Jefferson's obvious corruption charges with anywhere near the zeal, frequency, thoroughness or repetitiveness they cover Republicans. It's a great example of the media double-standard.

Chiquita Banana paid protection money to terrorists while US government looked the other way.

Government identified collapsed bridge structural problems 2 years ago.

Let's Help the Mullah's Self-destruct

Let's Help the Mullah's Self-destruct

by Mark Luedtke

Iran has the third largest oil reserves in the world, yet economists estimate it will no longer be able to export oil by 2014. Oil production has dropped by 1/3 since the revolution in 1979. The government spends 38% of its budget subsidizing gasoline, nearly all of which it imports, resulting in rationing, riots, and the burning of gas stations. We're watching the death throws of the Mullah's failed revolution.

Iran is dying from central planning. It may be a theocracy, but the government is modeled after Soviet government with the trappings of Islamic radicalism. Socialism has broken another wealthy, proud nation, and Iran's tyrannical government is fighting to survive.

Instead of delivering an improved standard of living, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government is arresting tens of thousands of its citizens for dress code violations, purging its universities of dissenters, and arresting trade union leaders. His government has declared emergencies in several provinces, and big-government corruption is running rampant. The increasingly desperate Iranian regime is shutting down opposition newspapers, TV and radio, and preparing show trials for opposition leaders.

Iran is traveling Friedrich Hayek's Road to Serfdom, religious trappings aside, and the Iranian people are fed up. A groundbreaking poll recently showed that Iran's citizens want no supreme leader or confrontation with the west. They don't want to fund Hezbollah and Hamas. They want nuclear power, and would happily allow inspectors to verify their peaceful program.

Skyrocketing oil prices and desperation make the Iranian government dangerous. Iran is building powerful anti-vehicle explosives and supplying then to the Mahdi army and other Shiite militias in Iraq. Iran has employed their elite military QUDs force and Hezbollah to train attackers and plan and execute attacks against US forces in Iraq. They're arming Iraqi militias and the Taliban with Chinese weapons, kidnapping British sailors and US citizens on vacation.

Then there's Iran's nuclear program. Someone once said that Iran needs nuclear power like it needs sand. While there is a grain of truth to that, Iran needs power because exploding energy demand requires increasing fuel imports. But Iran's nuclear plants are designed to make material for weapons, not power. The world would support a peaceful, nuclear power program in Iran if the government really wanted that.

We would be foolish to think Iran wouldn't use a nuclear weapon. Ahmadinejad has trumpeted his desire to wipe Israel off the map. His phony Holocaust conference ironically highlighted his desire to repeat the horror. Ahmadinejad has declared that Britain and the US will be destroyed as well. We better take him at his word. Muslim clerics have already issued fatwas claiming that using nuclear weapons against the US is justified. And religious extremism enables the Mullahs to go where even the Soviets wouldn't – nuclear extortion to save their failing regime. All they have to do is claim they've planted a bomb in a major American city and demand anything they want from the infidel.

We can't allow Iran to get the bomb. With China shipping Iran weapons and Russia supplying Iran's nuclear program, we can't count on the UN for support. Dick Cheney and John Bolton champion striking Iran to destroy its nuclear facilities. Hawks fear that tunneling near Iran's nuclear sites is intended to harden the targets against attack, and may make it impossible to destroy their weapons program with military strikes.

Reports claim that President Bush is waging a covert war in Iran in response to Iran's covert war against the coalitions in Iraq and Afghanistan. If this is true, it's ineffective. Terrorists and their weapons continue to flow freely from Iran to both countries. US policy should include covert action that accelerates the fall of the Mullahs and saves American lives, but the danger with both military strikes and covert action is that they could turn Iranian public sentiment in favor of the government.

Bush recently issued an executive order allowing the seizure of assets of organizations promoting violence in Iraq, clearly targeted at Iran and its proxies, but the US has far more powerful economic tools that we have yet to employ to help finish the Mullahs. US companies are banned from conducting business with Iran's energy industry, but the Dodd-Lantos bill would impose sanctions on any international company who did the same. Europeans would howl with rage over being forced to choose between doing business with Iran or the US, but it beats risking any American lives. Mass divestiture by large pensions can also force companies to stop doing business with Iran.

By far the best way to end the Mullah's reign is to reduce the price of oil by increasing supply. Anybody obstructing drilling in Anwar and the Gulf is prioritizing the convenience of caribou and fish over the lives of people who will die if we have to strike Iran. If Congress passed legislation allowing drilling, oil futures and oil prices would fall. Progress toward drilling would continue to drive down oil prices and deprive the Mullahs of their funds.

We should unleash our economic might to end the Mullahs' reign and reserve military strikes as a last resort.

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Russia continues its outrageous provocation by planting a flag to claim the north pole. Why are we putting up with bullying from this tin-plated dictator? This is another example of the problems we live with because we don't produce enough oil to keep the price down. It's all about oil. When are liberals going to figure out their stupid policies are empowering our enemies and weakening us?

Reason's reprint of article predicting high oil prices for the foreseeable future. That's because Democrats won't let us drill and increase our domestic supply. That's stupid too.

Liberals are still upset that Bush is carrying out his Constitutional responsibility as commander in chief by secretly gathering intelligence on terrorists. Liberals would obviously prefer we suffered terrorist attacks to successfully interdicting them. Stupid.

Liberals have another made-up issue regarding the attorneys. They think since Bush is in the White House, that Justice Department officials aren't allowed to express their opinions to US Attorneys. This is ridiculous. If the Justice Department doesn't like the way an attorney executed a case, they can fire that attorney, though it didn't happen in this case. Liberals are trying to create, only for the Bush administration, naturally, completely unaccountable US Attorneys. That's just stupid.

It looks like $20 billion in weapons bought at least the appearance of Saudi Arabian support.

Reason explodes the myth that Prohibition was repealed for civil rights or crime reasons. It was repealed so government could recover tax revenue from alcohol during the depression.

How come Republicans don't stand up for states' rights regarding medical marijuana? Because Republicans only pay lip service to states' rights when it suits them. They don't really believe in states' rights any more than Democrats.

Fred Thompson backs off pledge to sign the FairTax. He probably misspoke the first time, but he would be smart to support the FairTax.

When America sneezes, the world still catches a cold. International stocks are down because of weakness in the US housing market, a small bubble driven by irresponsible buyers who purchased loans they couldn't afford to pay. These complaints about sub-prime lending are bull. The people who purchased the loans are responsible for their own actions, period.

Rupert Murdoch buys Dow Jones and the WSJ.

Mickey Kaus suggests a way for McCain to revitalize his campaign. Take on the media.

Boortz provides a link to 3 parodies of School House Rock that make fun of government schools, done by MadTV. Dysfunction Junction, Nouns, Substoot Teacher.

Illegal immigrants are unhappy about Georgia's laws restricting jobs and benefits for illegal immigrants. Duh.

Did we really need a study to tell us that smarter teens don't have as much sex?

Rich Lowry says Democrats are miscalculating with their bogus investigations of Bush.

What is the crap about about equal pay for equal work? First of all, there's no such thing as equal work. It's a euphemism that pretends we're not unique, born with different abilities and tempered by different experiences. Second, what one person makes for work is between that individual and his employer. If you don't like the salary offered, find another job. If you accept a salary, you have no right to ask government to punish your employer. You have to negotiate a different salary, or find another job. You get paid whatever you and your employer agrees to. End of story.

A Canadian understands the stakes and sees the progress in Iraq.

Britain will have to chose to be closer aligned with the US or the EU.

The surge may continue after Gen. Petraeus' September report. That's always been likely. As long as Republicans can sustain a veto, the surge will last until army readiness ends it, most likely sometime in Q1, or certainly Q2, 2008.

Dick Morris claims Hillary's insider comment about rejecting summits with the leaders of rogue nations is bad for her campaign. Dick Morris is exhibiting what's wrong with Washington. He thinks Hillary should have stuck her finger in the wind and let this issue pass, but he's mistaken. Hillary already knows she has the Democratic nomination sown up, and she's playing the larger public. She's making the right move.

John Stossel talks about irrational voters and 4 specific voter biases.

How Russia is reasserting itself. It's oil money again. Lower the price of oil to reduce Russia's power.

Politicians and think tanks are avoiding the Social Security / Medicare problem that will destroy us all.

The WSJ plans to remain independent, comments on being purchased by Murdoch's Newscorp.

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US death toll in Iraq at 8 month low. New York Times op-ed calls for Congress to support the surge into 2008. Wow.

So much for the myth that Americans are insecure about the economy. Consumer confidence hits 6 year high.

Another Senator investigated for corruption.

Democrats start another worthless investigation of Bush administration. These Democrats are intent on becoming the most useless Congress ever in the mistaken belief they can win the presidency next year. They're ruining their chances.

This shows just how effective the War on Drugs isn't: kids stealing freon from air-conditioners to get high. I'll guess they'll ban that next.

Citizens upset over naked mannequins. Naturally they want government to force their removal.

Of course the Pentagon has plans to extend the surge. I'm sure it has plans to end it too. It's their job to plan for contingencies. But liberals are trying to make political hay out of it.

Arming the Saudis never helps.

Christopher Hitchens wonders why we're afraid to offend Muslims. I think the answer is obvious.

Reason on Jerry Falwell.

Printers pose health hazard. So does living.

Our government's self-destructive energy policy. They should get the hell out of the way and let the free market work.

Or course a border fence would have ecological ramifications. So do illegal immigrants all over the country, along with social and economic ramifications. But we don't need any fence. If we enforce the law against hiring illegal immigrants, the jobs will go away, and the illegal immigrants will go home on their. This isn't hard.

WSJ op-ed explains the Bush wiretapping controversy, and reports that the program has been repeatedly emasculated, risking new terrorist attacks. But Congress doesn't care about that.

The 2 parties are little parties by Tocqueville's standards.

Article claims China is a natural ally, if we had leaders who could pull it off.

Sovereign weath funds defy capitalist logic.

John Murtha's plans to defeat us in Iraq and free terrorists from Guantanamo.

Michael Barone examines reports that the surge is working, and how that is bad news for the Democrats.

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New British Prime Minister Brown says the world owes the US a debt for taking the lead in the fight on terrorism. It's about time somebody noticed it.

Russia to sell long range fighter jets and refueling planes to Iran. Lovely.

71% of American approve of more surveillance cameras.

Bush asks Congress to update FISA to better track terrorists.

Google fights to open the wireless spectrum.

Man arrested for hate crime for flushing a Koran. Liberals have now forced thought crimes on Americas.

Boortz reports that cities are suing gangs to stop gang crime. Interesting idea, but the ACLU wants to put a stop to it. If liberals get their way, the only people the law will ever apply to is white men.

Americans think the Supreme Court is well balanced. What does that even mean, and why does it matter? The Court should have no ideological bias at all, and none of the justices decisions should be based on ideology. They should be based on the law - the Constitution first, then other laws next.

Mark Steyn rips society for the sexual abuse charges against the 7th graders who slapped other students on the butt. This is a sign of the decline of civilization. Renting pets is another. So is suing a school because your daughter got cut at cheerleading tryouts.

Another article shows that illegal immigrants are self-deporting because of the environment. I've said all along that they'll leave when the jobs dry up. The proof is in the pudding.

The failure of liberals to succeed at talk radio is not an issue for government to take up any more than the failure of cornish game hens to compete with chickens in the grocery. It' s a market decision.

Scientists breed a schizophrenic mouse. Watch it get loose and breed. Mouse attacks will become commonplace.

Schumer and liberals are upset that the Roberts court has made small steps to reestablishing the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

China and Russia love it when people think Iran is our enemy. Iran, like North Korea, is just a proxy for China and Russia. They're our new Cold War of Terror enemies. Iran is a useful tool.

Congress wants to raise taxes on cigarettes to insure children who already have private health insurance. This is just a power grab popularized by punishing smokers.

Private enterprise may soon compete with NASA.

We better be prepared for China with all updated weapons in 10 years.

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The House of Representatives has blatantly overstepped its constitutional powers in an attempt to pardon 2 border agents. You watch, the right, which pretends to be a party of small government and limited powers, will embrace this abuse of power. But 2 wrongs don't make a right; they just make government even worse.

Proposed $20 billion arms sale to Saudis. I guess this is thanks for their great job keeping oil prices down and promoting a peaceful strain of Islam all around the world. Wait. They're doing just the opposite.

House bill banning paperless voting machines advances.

US intelligence community can't keep up with terrorists. Too much government makes us unresponsive and inflexible.

US to increase military aid to Israel. We're just going to arm everybody.

Chuck Schumer claims Roberts and Alito duped the Senate. Give me a break.

British tale of a CIA rendition.

Reason on the transhumanist conference.

Iraq wins Asian soccer tournament.

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America continues to make the Chinese rich while they continue to use our money to fund a new Cold War of Terror against us. China is now arming insurgents and police in Iraq while building up their nuclear and conventional arsenal. We keep voting for leaders who are too stupid to do anything about it, and Sun Tzu is laughing at us from his grave.

Ralph Peters goes over rarely reported good news from Iraq and suggests the next presidential debates be held in Baghdad.

US and Iraqi forces kill 17 Mahdi Army fighters.

Another explosion at Pakistan's Red Mosque.

US increases funding for Israel's missile defense. This could be preparation for a strike on Iran.

Iran says it will never stop its nuclear program. I think Ahmadinejad says that at least once a week.

Couple arrested for flying a flag upside down.

Reason says terrorism is a real threat.

Slate advocates liberal judges rewrite the law in their own image at will. I'm not kidding.

EPA investigates threat against global warming skeptic.

Michael Moore has been served a subpoena for his Cuba trip. It's a hard to get a proper permit to go to Cuba.

Reason considers if Ron Paul is good for the libertarian movement.

Review of The Simpson's Movie.

Competition is essential for school kids.

Boortz mentions a politically incorrect book from the 70s about a third world invasion of Europe. Sounds very insightful and prescient.

Does public accommodation of Muslims discriminate against other religions? Can you imagine how liberals would howl if institutions catered to Christians this way?

Ohio Senator Voinovich was the only Senator to vote against more border security. Is he nuts? Time for a letter.

Rising Tide of Global Warming Skepticism

Rising Tide of Global Warming Skepticism

by Mark Luedtke

In An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore writes of tackling man-made global warming: “When we do rise, it will fill our spirits and bind us together. Those who are now suffocating in cynicism and despair will be able to breathe freely. Those who are now suffering from a loss of meaning in their lives will find hope.” When we rise, “we will experience an epiphany as we discover that this crisis is not really about politics at all. It is a moral and spiritual challenge.”

Gore's invocation of spirituality is a religious assault on reason. But just like the Catholic Church was ultimately unable to stifle reason, science and debate, Gore and other prophets of the church of man-made global warming have failed to stop heretical climate scientists from injecting reason to the public debate.

Resisting the church is no easy task. The church of man-made global warming is big business. The United States government alone spends $4 billion a year on global warming research. Scientists like expensive SUVs like everybody else, and to win a piece of this multi-billion dollar pie, they have to bow to the church and propose research to study man-made global warming. Even prominent skeptical scientists warn their students to keep their skepticism to themselves or suffer professionally. As the Cato Institute reports, the result of scientists falling over themselves to get a piece of this huge pie is a rash of sloppy science.

But the reporting of this science is even sloppier. Newspaper and TV news programs, experiencing accelerating financial losses, look for sensational news stories to generate revenue. “Greenland Ice Cap to Disappear” sells a lot more papers than “Greenland's Ice Cap Changes Typical as Ever”. “Global Temperatures Rising at Unprecedented Rate” brings in a lot more viewers than “Global Temperature Variation Well Within Historical Norms”. The second headlines are accurate, but sensationalism, not accuracy, sells. The BBC has admitted its bias on global warming. Don't expect that kind of honesty from a major American news outlet.

The church of man-made global warming got a big boost by the natural disasters in the hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005, but one of the reasons that skepticism is growing is the weather hasn't continued to cooperate with the church. The bad hurricane season forecast for 2006 never emerged. The church had to dump the term 'global warming' because the weather wouldn't cooperate. Record cold this winter and spring, record cold and snows in the Southern Hemisphere this June, and snow flurries in Wyoming also this June forced the church to adopt the new term 'climate change'. Now the church can claim any bad weather is evidence of man-made climate change.

Thousands of scientists working with funds that dwarf many industries have been searching for nearly 30 years for the holy grail of the church of man-made global warming: a theory of climate change that meets the observed data. So far, they've failed. Despite all the money, time, and expertise, they can't produce a climate model that is accurate when run backwards. That's cause for great skepticism in itself.

To cover up this failure, the church has promoted the idea of a scientific consensus that humans cause climate change, invoking the same standard used by the Catholic Church to imprison and threaten Galileo with excommunication because he bucked the consensus that Earth was the center of the universe. Politics is about consensus, and the church is about politics, but the public knows that science is about the scientific method and tested theories, not consensus.

And the politics of global warming is socialism, despite the overwhelming destructive consequences of central planning in the 20th century. Czech President Vaclav Klaus says that socialism powered by the church of man-made global warming is now more of a threat to freedom than communism. All proposed solutions to man-made global warming involve increasing socialism around the world, with Americans paying far and away the worst price. But if global warming was a tremendous man-made threat, nobody would suggest that China and India, the two most populous nations in the world, should be exempt from the Kyoto Treaty limiting greenhouse gas emissions, yet they are.

Also, the public can tell this bogus consensus is no consensus at all. Al Gore predicts that sea levels will rise 20 feet by the end of the century. In 2001, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted that sea levels would rise by 4 to 35 inches. It downgraded its worst case to 23 inches in 2007. The IPCC can't agree with itself, let alone others, and even the New York Times told Gore to knock off the flagrant alarmism.

Gore scurries from honest debate, but he just produced a series of gas guzzling concerts around the world. By most accounts, even Gore's sermon from a planet-sized pulpit with loudspeakers failed to overwhelm. Skeptics recognize that Gore is amassing tremendous wealth by grandly preaching energy austerity then hopping on private jets with celebrity energy hogs.

At Gore's concert, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attempted to intimidate skeptics by claiming they should be charged with treason. Others have likened skeptics to Holocaust deniers and called for Nuremberg style trails. An increasingly skeptical public is overcoming these assaults on reason and empowering quality science and reasoned debate which will ultimately lead to better policy.

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The NYTimes has a breakdown of Gen. Petraeus' plan for winning in Iraq. Slate has analysis explaining why success in Iraq is still a long-shot despite Petraeus' plan. But it's in our interest to try. So far the successes have been greater than we had any right to expect.

Judge throws out local law addressing illegal immigration.

The FBI calls Chinese spying a serious concern. Nice to see the FBI has finally noticed. It's been going on for years, and it's just now a serious concern? Has the FBI been stuck in a donut shop? The Chinese are waging a war of subterfuge against us.

Gonzales may face perjury probe. Bush should cut this loser loose. Not to appease ankle-biting Democrats, but for the good of the country. We need a competent Attorney General. Not another special prosecutor who might well run rogue and carry out another witch-hunt. What's the matter with the prosecutors we have? Looks like he's caught red handed.

Democrats try another unconstitutional ploy to end the war in Iraq. Just cut off funding or revoke the war authorization, and take your medicine for defeating your own country.

I don't want the government tracking me while I'm at the beach, or anywhere else.

It's reefer madness all over again: study claims smoking just one joint can raises the risk of schizophrenia by 40%.

Newt takes on the establishment.

Reason says Hillary would be another imperial president.

FBI and Chinese officials shut down Chinese software piracy ring.

Obesity spreads through social networks. Wow.

Worker sabotages NASA computer.

John Stossel explains that capitalism and wealth generation have enabled tolerance and humaneness, not government.

A strategy for winning in Iraq that means settling differences with Iran. Since that means allowing Iran to have the bomb, that option's out.

As I predicted, a Bloomberg candidacy would help Democrats. It gives the hate Hillary crowd a candidate who isn't a Republican, and it gives people fed up with Republicans but would never vote Democrat a candidate that isn't a Democrat.

Why isn't anybody talking about social security? Because that would cost them the election.

A mini autobiography of Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

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Ron Paul sponsors bill to end the Iraq war constitutionally. Democrats don't have the integrity to do this.

Grand jury refuses to indict doctor of murder for mercy killings in the wake of hurricane Katrina. I don't like the logical conclusion of this thinking. I wouldn't want doctors killing every person in pain.

We've known for years that al Qaeda in Iraq reports to bin Laden. Remember Zarqawi's letters?

House judiciary committee approves contempt charges for Bush aids. While I'm sure the loony left loves eats this stuff up, the Democrats are imploding with the public at large. If they continue, they're going to lose this politically and legally.

Al Qaeda in Iraq is suffering a rebellion, as junior member provide information to US troops. Wow. This is how we'll win. Democrats want to defeat us before this becomes well known in the US.

Arab leaders travel to Israel with peace offer.

Russian built nuclear plant in Iran won't open until at least Autumn 2008.

Russia's youth praise Stalin. That's one sick country. No wonder Putin is getting away with returning to totalitarianism.

Ward Churchill, the fraudulent Colorado professor who called the victims of 9/11 "little Eichmanns", was finally fired.

Reason is against making smokers pay for children's socialized medicine.

The dangers of restrictions on potentially life-saving experimental drugs.

In another blow to Al Gore's church of global warming, hurricane forecaster reduces hurricane prediction.

Obama's aids dare to claim that his campaign is modeled on Ronald Reagan's. Invoking Ronald Reagan in support of this dangerous socialist is the hight of hypocrisy. Reagan's success came from his limited government, low tax message, not some vague, misleading concept as hope. Liberals simply cannot admit that Reagan's success was about limited government.

Hillary continues to try and hide who she is. Now she doesn't want to be called liberal.

UFO sighting over Stratford-upon-Avon. This will turn out to be some publicity stunt.

7th graders arrested for smacking girls' butts.

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Iran has increased support for Iraqi militias since talks began. Like al Qaeda, they're afraid we might succeed in Iraq. Heated exchange. Yet we're going to set up a security discussion group with Iran. Why not just them detailed plans for troop movements and allocations? And the codes to our nukes? How stupid are we?

No good answers as to why al Qaeda is a strong now as it was before 9/11.

It's about time Bush explained that fighting al Qaeda in Iraq is fighting al Qaeda. Al Qaeda has been telling us that for years.

Taliban commander blows himself up to avoid capture. This after being released from Guantanamo. Why are we releasing terrorists from Guantanamo?

Attorney General accuses aids to New York governor of using state police to smear political opponent.

New Haven, Connecticut provides legal ID to illegal immigrants. Supposedly to reduce crime. I guess they forgot that the illegal aliens are the criminals.

Harry Reid takes on file sharing.

Wikipedia discovers errors in Encyclopedias Britannica.

Reason asks if living longer is worth it.

Slate claims the Democrats' YouTube debate was entertaining. I guess instead of voting on issues and character, we should just vote on entertainment value.

House Democrats hold 10 to 1 cash edge on Republicans.

Hillary is changing her tune again. In April she said she would meet with troublesome world leaders. In July she slams Obama for saying same. Nice catch, Drudge. Newspapers should do more of this.

Biden calls gun owner nuts in debate.

Russian newspaper Pravda treats hollow earth theory as if it were serious.

Ralph Peters stands up for John McCain. This only makes sense if your only issue is winning the war in Iraq. McCain's support for amnesty, his disregard for the First Amendment, and position as a statist disqualify him for President.

Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are working overtime to defeat transparency of earmarks.

Democrats are mistaken when they claim Iraq has nothing to do with al Qaeda. Al Qaeda considers Iraq the central front in the war on terror, and devotes most of its resources there. That makes it the central front in the war on terror, and we should crush al Qaeda in Iraq while assaulting the rest of al Qaeda anywhere it hides.

The WSJ agrees with me that Democrats' threats to bring charges in spite of Bush's claims of executive privilege are spurious, and explains why Clinton's demands of executive privilege were bogus while Bush's are legal.

We should be certainly be worried about China's economy, and the way to answer China's growth is by adopting the FairTax and reducing the size and scope of government.

Thomas Sowell asks if America is morally paralyzed to act against Iran like France was morally paralyzed to act against Hitler. A nuclear armed Iran will be far more dangerous to the US than Hitler.

Ralph Peters criticizes the original generals in Iraq, and thinks that the good generals, Gen. Petraeus and his staff, have finally risen to the top.

Democrats are blocking bill that would protect citizens from lawsuits if they report suspicious behavior to authorities.

The top 10 discoveries of Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity.

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Support for the Iraq war is on the rise. Petraeus has credibility.

Pakistani military is on the offensive in the tribal lands.

Turkey's Islamic pragmatists win in landslide, but promise to support secularism. Hmmm.

Hezbollah claims rockets can reach all of Israel. Iran should be proud.

Putin's power grabs are moving Russia backwards.

Reason on fuel efficiency.

Reason discusses paying kids for good grades. I think it's a great idea. Kids are unlikely to understand the value of the investment in education until they're preparing for college, but they'll understand that better performance generates more rewards.

Bush's bitter ex-Surgeon General has his own problem politicizing science.

Dick Cheney is rolling in dough because of Halliburton stock.

We may soon see $100 for a barrel of oil.

Dollar reaches new low. We need to adopt the FairTax.

British politician George Galloway profited from Saddam's oil for food program.

Newt Gingrich blasts the GOP candidates and the political process.

Democrats raise $100 million more than Republicans.

If you needed more proof that the 2 parties are almost identical, Wall Street is donating more heavily to Democrats than Republicans. You would think Wall Street would prefer even slightly lower taxes.

Romney is taking on Fred Thompson.

The Democrats held a YouTube debate? Apparently. It sure wasn't well publicized.

Woman stripped an beaten after being branded a witch. Patrick Fitzgerald caught another witch.

Google's plan to bid on 700 MHz spectrum.

Firefox 2.0.0.5 password vulnerability. This is just one reason I never allow my browsers to remember my passwords.

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Dubai claims world's tallest building. The US doesn't even bother to compete anymore in a sign of western decline.


Company implants employees with RFID chips.

Turkey invites Iraq and US to discuss PKK terrorist problem.

Military has Taliban hostage takers surrounded.

Israeli troops kill 2 Hamas gunmen. It must be Tuesday.

Chavez consolidates power, merging political parties into 1.

Refinery problems drive up gasoline prices.

Mark Steyn discusses the American hostages in Iran. More on the American hostages and Iran's abuses against its citizens.

Charles Krauthammer explains that Gen. Petraeus is finally carrying out an American vision in Iraq, and it's about time. We should never have put our eggs in Maliki's basket. Now we're pacifying the country without him. Either the government will use the ensuing security to form a unity government with Sunnis, or it not. That's up to them.

Democrats are more out of touch with religious voters than ever.

Article claims it's in Pakistan's interest against India to keep Afghanistan unstable. Pakistan's first priority is in countering India, not defeating terrorism. In a similar vein, author asks 2 great questions regarding Pakistan:

There are two big questions worth pondering gravely: 1. Are we witnessing a repetition of the events in Iran, in 1979, in which all the relatively "liberal" elements in Persian society fell to squabbling among themselves, while the totalitarian Islamists under Ayatollah Khomeini deposed the Shah? 2. Whether or not this could happen, will it come to appear so likely, that India will resolve to prevent it by main force?

Keith Olbermann is losing it.

Author wonders if anybody is listening to Gen. Petraeus. Everybody should be.

Linux desktop based on Firefox.

Editorial claims that a majority of Senators from both parties want a new mission in Iraq - fewer troops focused on al Qaeda, training Iraqis, and force protection. This isn't a new mission. This is the same old mission that failed for 4 years. Bush changed course and leadership in Iraq as the public demanded. We finally have a man in charge, Gen. Petreaus, who can get the job done, and we have enough troops to pacify the Baghdad region and possibly the whole country. For the first time in 4 years, Al Qaeda in Iraq is being destroyed. Why would anybody want to go back to the failed policy of the last 4 years?

The New York Times has an extensive piece on Ron Paul.

Author astutely recognizes that Republicans are preparing to pull the plug on Iraq after Gen. Petreaus' report in Sept. Gen Petreaus' honest assessment of the surge and of the consequences of potential changes in strategy is unlikely to win over any Democrats or fence sitting Republicans. Even in the surge is magnificently succeeding, Gen. Petreaus would never say that because he isn't given to that kind of excess. Nice title.

Diplomat describes his past discussions with Iran concerning invading Afghanistan in 2001.