What maketh a neo-con?  [Jamie]  —  There's been a lot of discussion on the blog about the use—and abuse—of the label "neo-con." Which has got me thinking—what is it that causes people to label others this way?  And why is it that people who would never consider themselves neo-conservatives are labeled as such?

Larry Craig's Real Mistake  —  I feel sorry for Larry Craig.  Truly.  Even though Craig voted to censor Barney Frank for Frank's tryst with a male prostitute.  Craig has been behind some of the most intolerant and anti-gay legislation that a US Senator could put his mark on.

Pentagon 'three-day blitz' plan for Iran  —  THE Pentagon has drawn up plans for massive airstrikes against 1,200 targets in Iran, designed to annihilate the Iranians' military capability in three days, according to a national security expert.  —  Alexis Debat, director of terrorism …

Bush Is Said to Approve More Aid to Iraqi Sunnis Battling Extremist Groups  —  President Bush, marshaling his arguments to maintain current troop levels in Iraq, has approved the acceleration of a new program to intensify economic assistance directly to Sunni Arab regions where former insurgents …

Mexico trucks to roll on U.S. highways  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration can proceed with a plan to open the U.S. border to long haul Mexican trucks as early as next week after an appeals court rejected a bid by labor, consumer and environmental interests to block the initiative.

7 Questions as the Race for the White House Accelerates  —  Not a juggernaut, but it is the best campaign on the block right now.  That's a view widely shared among Democratic strategists and emphatically asserted by some veteran Republicans sizing up the race.

Geraldo Rivera unhinged  —  The Boston Globe has a fawning Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous-ish profile of Fox News Channel's Geraldo Rivera.  In between musing about his favorite pair of soft Uggs ("I've worn these in Tora Bora and Somalia," he says, admiring the suede slip-ons with the sheepskin lining.

Federal Bombing Charges Against Florida "Students" Arrested in South Carolina  —  Remember those two Egyptian "students" arrested in South Carolina back in early August for possessing what CAIR spokesman Ahmed Bedier claimed were fireworks but turned out to be pipe bombs according to state authorities?

When Labor Is Strong Democrats Win...  Given that it's Labor Day weekend let's have a chat about labor - organized labor.  If you take a look at the map on your left something may jump out at you, as it did me.  Where Labor is strong - Democrats tend to win.  Where Labor is weak, they don't.

Rev Guards Base Uncovered in Syria  —  I've been saying for some time that Syria is an Iranian colony, and that the defense pact the two signed several months ago was a serious matter.  Now the Reform Party of Syria, which I trust, has just sent out the following:

In Book, Bush Peeks Ahead to His Legacy  —  When President Bush is asked what he plans to do when he leaves office, he often replies curtly: "I don't have that much time to think beyond my presidency" or "I'm going to sprint to the finish."  —  But in an interview with a book author …

chicagotribune.com  —  Some see 'coup' as Iraq's best hope  —  Ex-premier Allawi building political bloc to challenge al-Maliki  —  In the lobbies of luxury hotels and the apartments of exiles, an assortment of Iraqi politicians has been spending the summer vacation plotting a new Iraqi coup …

Scarface Director's Iraq Soldier-Rape Movie  —  American director Brian De Palma is launching his controversial new film based on the rape and murder of an Iraqi girl by US troops.  —  The creator of classics like Scarface, Casualties of War and The Untouchables is tackling the Iraq war …

As 9/11 Draws Near, a Debate Rises: How Much Tribute Is Enough?  —  Again it comes, for the sixth time now — 2,191 days after that awful morning — falling for the first time on a Tuesday, the same day of the week.  —  Again there will be the public tributes, the tightly scripted memorial events …