A positive view of the negotiations over the Iraqi constitution

a couple good points from the article:

Sharia or Islamic family law, probably the most resilient aspect of the
Holy Law since it culturally underpins the highly stable Muslim home, may make
some comeback in Iraqi law and in the new constitution. In all probability, this
process will not be a Trojan horse, allowing for the subversion of democracy
itself. As long as women have the right to vote and the Iraqi Parliament remains
the supreme chamber for political debate--and neither is seriously in
question--then the inclusion of some aspects of Islamic family law into Iraq's
civil code may well reinforce democracy's chances.

...equal rights between the sexes is not a precondition for the growth of
democracy. If this were so, Western democracy never would have developed.

I'll be darned...Mike Malloy is in a rage about the Air America Scandal

After he convinced himself it was a rightwing conspiracy. A post on BoreAmerica which quotes Malloy:

"This was obviously all part of the Flying Monkey Right's secret plan to
undermine our network! Those Nazi fascist brownshirt bastards - they stole that
money and now they're trying to blame it on us! Damn them! Damn them to hell!"

I'm not sure about that. I'm thinking that Dr. Mabuse and the GOP leadership may recognize that as long as Air America is out there (along with the Daily Kos and Howard Dean) it only benefits conservatives. Unless Malloy thinks it's a triple-double switcheroo, in which case the evil doctor is playing some multi-dimensional mind games well beyond my brain capacity.

Steyn ties it all in with a devestating column

On Hackett's and the "victory":

It was "nearly the biggest political upset in recent history," which is another
way of saying it was actually the smallest political non-upset in recent
history. Hackett was like a fast-forward rerun of the Kerry campaign. He was a
veteran of the Iraq war, but he was anti-war, but he made solemn dignified
patriotic commercials featuring respectful footage of President Bush and
artfully neglecting to mention the candidate was a Democrat, but in livelier
campaign venues he dismissed Bush as a "sonofabitch" and a "chicken hawk" who
was "un-American" for questioning his patriotism.

On the Democrat "platform":

...After the Ohio vote, Dem pollster Stan Greenberg declared that "one of the
biggest doubts about Democrats is that they don't stand for anything." That
might have passed muster two years ago. Alas, the party's real problem is that
increasingly there's no doubt whatsoever about it.

On Bush's education "cuts":

Just for the record, "his cuts to education funding" are cuts only in the sense
that Hackett's performance in the Ohio election was a tremendous victory: that's
to say, Bush's "cuts to education funding" are in fact an increase of roughly 50
percent in federal education funding.

And alas, a point that I've mentioned here before: the need for two parties in a two party system:

Republicans may see the increasingly arthritic, corpulent, wheezing, flatulent
Democratic Party as a boon for them, but I don't. Two-party systems need two
parties, not just for the health of the loser but for that of the winner, too.
Intellectually, philosophically, legislatively, it's hard to maintain the
discipline to keep yourself in shape when the other guy just lies around the
house all day.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Read the whole thing.

Wretchard @ the Belmont Club deciphers a DOD press briefing

and ponders the size and scope of an apparently new operation we have going on the western border.

Lee Harris chimes in on teaching intelligent design and evolution in school

as always, Harris is most thoughtful.

Also through Instapundit

from Gateway Pundit: The Iraqi ambassador to Egypt is a lady (Safia al-Suhail). She's also fighting for women's rights in the upcoming constitution.

Lileks has the skinny on Bolton's first day

via Instapundit

I'm glad that bit of silliness is over....

Bush clarifies: it's still the War on Terror.

Byron York looks at the Dem's preferred phrase: abuse of power

My final thoughts on "Intelligent" Design...

Fucking hell... Intelligent Design taught in schools... why don't we also bring back phrenology as a means of social engineering?
"Well Mr B., due to this occiptal ridge crossing both your undersized eyesockets and merging in the center of your forehead, and the erm... outsized formation of your ears, I'm afraid that the only job we'll ever be able to place you in is sanitation engineer."

Good grief, the rightwing is getting stupider with every passing moment.

The Algerian Connection

good article about the web of affiliates between al Qaeda and Saddam. More investigation is needed.

Red Meat Special

Who’s going to protect minorities and the disenfranchised from Air America? Michele Malkin isn’t counting on Jesse. I'm sure Mike Malloy is beside himself with anger over the scandal.

Double shot of Tech Central

Lee Harris was never comfortable with spreading democracy in the Middle East and explains his reasons using the Iran election as an example.

Michael Fumento thinks Frist was wrong on expanding funding of embryonic stem cell research – and makes some good points.

"No spin - the GOP is on the run"

one win at a time.

As an Oklahoma State football fan, I'm very familiar with moral victories - and that you can rely on them for years.

The myth of control

I've been passing comments on the nonfamous site

like old times here

I'm not sure how it happened

but Liverputty is on the blogroll for Radioblogger. Scroll down to "Ryan Newman Up 'N Comers". I'm guessing it may be because I've linked to Radio blogger in the past.

Austin Bay notices that our stance on human rights got us kicked out of Uzbekistan

Tigerhawk notes: “The next time somebody tells you that the United States
operates without principle, remind them that the Bush Administration walked away
from an important base in central Asia because it stood up for political liberty
in one of the most isolated places on the planet.”

I'm thinking Steve might agree with Krauthammer on this one....

at least partially?

Congrats to the cookie duster!

After months of anxiety, the recess appointment has finally happened. Sorry we couldn't get a vote for you, Mr. Bolton, but you know how it is. Now get in there and start cracking some heads!