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Resist the Filibuster Fiat By / WaPo — Permalink During President Bush's first term, 10 of his judicial nominees were filibustered by Senate Democrats. This month, when the 109th Congress convened, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist finally declared war. | |
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Avedon Carol: Kevin Drum actually has an op-ed in the WaPo today, Resist the Filibuster Fiat - but I'm not sure who he's talking to. Kevin Drum: I explain in more detail in the Washington Post today. Orrin Judd: IT'S ALL FIAT: Resist the Filibuster Fiat (Kevin Drum, January 31, 2005, Washington Post) [snipped quote] What Mr. Drum... |
James Joyner: The Filibuster Fiat — Congratulations to Kevin Drum, who has published a column in today's WaPo entitled, "Resist the Filibuster Fiat." Steve Dillard: On the filibuster feud: Kevin Drum makes some fair points in this opinion piece he penned for WaPo*, but the bottom line... |
Message From Iraq NYT — Permalink Courageous Iraqis turned out to vote yesterday in numbers that may have exceeded even the most optimistic predictions. Participation varied by region, and the impressive national percentages should not obscure the fact that the country's large Sunni Arab minority remained broadly disenfranchised - due to alienation or terror or both. | |
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Avedon Carol: But everyone thinks it's time to crow about Iraqi democracy. I say it's too soon. How about you? Steven Taylor: The NYT: Message From Iraq "This page has not hesitated to criticize the Bush administration over its policies in Iraq,... Captain Ed: However, they still manage to outdo their East Coast counterparts: "This page has not hesitated to criticize the Bush... |
Andrew Sullivan: So check the NYT editorial today. No such acknowledgment. The difference between the blogosphere and the MSM: more accountability. Jesse Taylor: I did, however, wanted to remark on something that the New York Times said about the elections: [snipped quote] The... David Adesnik: The Times' response to yesterday's election in Iraq was somewhat more muted. |
| Also: Chris Lawrence, Daniel Drezner, Ed Cone, K. J. Lopez | |
There is no tomorrow By / Minneapolis Star Tribune — Permalink One of the biggest changes in politics in my lifetime is that the delusional is no longer marginal. It has come in from the fringe, to sit in the seat of power in the Oval Office and in Congress. For the first time in our history, ideology and theology hold a monopoly of power in Washington. | |
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Avedon Carol: Things to read — In The Star Tribune, Bill Moyers: There is no tomorrow: One of the biggest changes in politics in my lifetime is that the delusional is no longer marginal. Joe Carter: I assume then that his latest screed against conservative Christians is an intentional falsehood meant to dupe those who never travel outside of Blue state circles. Glenn Reynolds: DAVE KOPEL: [snipped quote] Here's the column. |
Cliff May: BILL MOYERS CRI DE COUER — A bleg: Here's is Bill Moyers on why "There is no tomorrow," a howl of anger and despair... Hugh Hewitt: And don't miss Bill Moyers' latest "I'm still here" screech. Moyers is now relegated to the pages of the Star Tribune, which says a lot about the paper. McQ: Being taken seriously — Lesson to me: Learn from Bill Moyers. [snipped quote] Lesson? |
First Amendment no big deal, students say AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - The way many high school students see it, government censorship of newspapers may not be a bad thing, and flag burning is hardly protected free speech. The Most "WOW!" Travel Dealson the Internet - here's a sampling: | |
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Joe Gandelman: If you were expecting young people to be at the forefront of protecting the first amendment for themselves and future generations you are apparently mistaken. Atrios: I don't know if that trend is true, but these poll results should scare us all: Yet, when told of the exact text of the... Gary Farber: FREE SPEECH: WHO NEEDS IT? Perhaps charging for it is the way to go. |
Todd Zywicki: A Problem and A Solution: The Problem: [snipped quote] The Solution: The Bill of Rights Institute I am the Chair of the... Oldman @BOPNews: The actual State of the Union — The actual state of the union is where most high schoolers think flag-burning is... Mathew Gross: In a related story: [quote] When told of the exact text of the First Amendment, more than one in three high school students said it goes "too far" in the rights it guarantees.[end quote] |
Black Days at Black Rock By / New York Magazine — Permalink At 7:30 on the morning of January 10—less than three hours before CBS would release the explosive 224-page report of the commission investigating the discredited September 8, 2004, 60 Minutes Wednesday report on President Bush's National Guard record—Betsy... | |
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Captain Ed: Inside Black Rock: A Look At The Memogate Fiasco From Within — New York Magazine has a fascinating look at the Memogate fiasco from people on the inside at CBS News. Brian Stelter: Heyward Came "This Close" To The Ax — New York tells the story behind the Memogate report: > "Heyward has reportedly... Betsy Newmark: Check out this story from the New York Magazine on the doom and gloom at CBS after the reprot on the Rathergate story came out. |
Michelle Malkin: Ratherbiased.com alerts us to the latest issue of New York magazine, which has an inside look at the internal strife at CBS News. Jan Haugland: CBS hoax memo fallout — If David Blum's piece about the fallout of Rathergate at CBS News is anyway near correct, the news channel is in a deep crisis. Bill @INDCJournal: A Must-Read for Rathergate Junkies — New York Magazine reveals the internal strife and juicy tidbits of a post-Rathergate CBS News. |
| Also: Scott Sala | |
The De Soto Delusion By / Slate — Permalink It's Davos week, which means it's time for the world's most influential people to bask in the catchy wisdom of Hernando de Soto. Author of The Mystery of Capital and The Other Path, armchair consultant to numerous heads of state, and white knight for the... | |
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Ezra Klein: While I've already pointed to a few articles offering a general overview of our despotic allies, Steve's rundown of the... Kerry Howley: Debating Dead Capital — Over at Slate, John Gravois has a piece slamming Hernando de Soto's claim that conferring property rights are key to fighting poverty. |
Shannon Love: Delusions of De Soto's Delusion — John Gravois over at Slate pronounces Hernado de Soto's ideas a failure in alleviating poverty in the 3rd world. Greg Ransom: Well, a staff reporter from the Chronicle of Higher Education writing in Slate magazine could: "It's Davos week, which... |
VINDICATED New York Post — Permalink WHEN you heard about the stunning success of the Iraqi elections, were you thrilled? Did you see it as a triumph for democracy and for the armed forces of the United States that have sacrificed and suffered and fought so valiantly over the past 18 months to get Iraq to this moment? | |
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Leah A: The NYPost this morning features two prime examples of the genre, one by Deborah Orin, one by John Podhoretz, whose... Charles Johnson: Bush Vindicated, Dems and MSM Whine — John Podhoretz on the Iraqi elections and the disgraceful behavior of mainstream... Ace: Viva Iraq — From the Telegraph: [snipped quote] Read the rest for a plainspoken refutation of the resenters. (h/t/ lucianne) Also see here, here, and here. |
Steve M.: And from the professional press, here's John Podhoretz in the New York Post: WHEN you heard about the stunning success of the Iraqi elections, were you thrilled? Jeff Jarvis: Hell, democracy in America still requires work. : The eeyore meme spreads. Glenn Reynolds: MICKEY KAUS offers an explanation for the Democrats' political tin ear this week: Internet fundraising is tilting their message toward the fringe. |
| Also: The Big Trunk, Betsy Newmark | |
Hillary Clinton collapses during speech in New York AP — Permalink BUFFALO, N.Y. - Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton collapsed Monday during a speech in Buffalo. Colleen DiPirro, president of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, told WBEN radio station that the 57-year-old Clinton told the audience she was feeling weak from a... | |
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Joe Gandelman: Hillary Faints — You just KNOW there will be lots of speculation — and jokes — about this: BUFFALO, N.Y. Taegan Goddard: Hillary Clinton Collapses During Speech — Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) collapsed during a speech in Buffalo, NY, the AP reports. |
Steve Soto: Hillary Clinton Collapses In Buffalo — The AP is reporting that Hillary Clinton collapsed at a chamber of commerce event in Buffalo a short while ago. Oliver Willis: Hillary Clinton collapses — Hillary Clinton | Right-Wing Stupidity "Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton collapsed Monday during a speech in Buffalo and was taken to a local hospital. |
Child Said Used in Iraq Suicide Attack AP — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's interior minister said Monday that insurgents used a handicapped child as one of the suicide bombers who launched attacks on election day. Falah al-Naqib told reporters in Baghdad that 38 attacks were carried out on polling stations in Iraq on Sunday and that one of the suicide bombings was carried out by a disabled child. | |
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Joe Gandelman: ANSWER: As low as humanly — and inhumanly — possible: BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's interior minister said Monday that... James Joyner: Handicapped Child Said Used in Iraq Suicide Attack — Child Said Used in Iraq Suicide Attack (AP - WaPo) |
Charles Johnson: Holy Warriors Use Handicapped Child — Child Said Used in Iraq Suicide Attack. K. J. Lopez: ONE OF THE SUICIDE BOMBERS IN IRAQ SUNDAY was a disabled child?! This is the face of the enemy there: people who use a handicapped kid to kill. |
Beating a Dead Parrot By / Slate — Permalink There it was again, across half a page of the New York Times last Saturday, just as Iraqis and Kurds were nerving themselves to vote. "Flashback to the 60's: A Sinking Sensation of Parallels Between Iraq and Vietnam." | |
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John Cole: A Richly Deserved Smackdown — Hitchens delivers a vicious beating to the idiots on the left comparing Iraq to Vietnam:... Stephen Green: ". . .nothing whatsoever in common." Hitch explains why Iraq isn't Vietnam. Then again, you knew that already. |
Judith Weiss: They're all there. And Mark Steyn fisks most of them in one column. Christopher Hitchens handles one of the others. |
Webb drops out of race for DNC chairmanship By / Denver Post — Permalink Wellington Webb dropped out of the race to chair the Democratic National Committee today and endorsed former Vermont governor Howard Dean for the job. Webb, a former three-term Denver mayor, pulled out of contention immediately after an influential group... | |
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Kos @DailyKos: But we still have two weeks to go... Update: Webb drops out, endorses Dean. Chris Bowers: Webb Endorses Dean — Another big win for Dean: [snipped quote] If inevitability was dead yesterday, today it is an undead zombie rampaging the populace: [snipped quote] Wow. |
Taegan Goddard: Webb Backs Dean — Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb "dropped out of the race to chair the Democratic National... |
Security Efforts Hold Insurgents Mostly at Bay NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 - By increasing American troop strength in Iraq, banning all civilian car traffic and ordering a host of other security measures - some within standard military procedure and others distinctly not - American and Iraqi forces widely thwarted insurgents who had threatened to wash the streets with blood. | |
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Matthew Yglesias: And one can't be anything but thankful for the fact that a week's worth of special security measures ensured that only about four dozen Iraqis got killed for their trouble. Cori Dauber: I mention this because the Times features a front page above the fold article this morning that in part asks the question: how good is the good news? K. J. Lopez: From the NYTimes: "Every soldier on election duty heard intelligence warnings that insurgents would try to slip... |
Phillip Carter: The NYT agrees, reporting that Iraqi security forces bested the insurgents on a day when the insurgents were expected to inflict a terrible toll on the Iraqi population. Pejman Yousefzadeh: KEEPING IRAQ SECURE — This story discusses how the United States military was able to secure Iraq for a peaceful election, and is well worth a read. |
Bullets and ballots Guardian — Permalink The most obvious message to draw from yesterday's elections in Iraq is that it will be a long time before it becomes clear who the real winners are. Not only is this literally the case - in that it will be at least a week and a half before the results are known, and many of the candidates were anonymous - but figuratively too. | |
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Brownie @HarrysPlace: Today's Guardian editorial, quoting Kofi Anan, is perhaps the finest exemplar: This election is...only a first step in deciding Iraq's future. |
Norm Geras: One site of such urging, as you might expect, was this morning's Guardian editorial page. |
Race for Democratic Leader Entering Its Final Stage By / LAT — Permalink NEW YORK — Except for the higher quality of the bagels at breakfast, the regional Democratic National Committee meeting here over the weekend might have been a gathering of Iowa Democrats in the weeks before their kickoff presidential caucus last year. | |
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Nathan Newman: But he temporarily reverted today when he crowed about people fearing Dean's Internet supporters: "Once upon a time,... K. J. Lopez: Ron Brownstein: "The behind-the-scenes anxiety about Dean probably equals the public support he has generated. |
Kos @DailyKos: They finally fear us — From the LA Times: [snipped quote] Once upon a time, party officials feared NARAL, they feared... |
Is the Y Chromosome for Yuks? By / NRO — Permalink Harvard University President Lawrence H. Summers recently issued his third apology for remarks suggesting that women might not possess the same aptitude in math and science as men. So, if the academic women of America are anything like my wife, another three or four apologies and he should be good to go. | |
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Betsy Newmark: Warren Bell has his own theory to explain why men are funnier than women. |
Tom Smith: That's not funny — Are men funnier than women? The fact that you can even ask that question shows you have no sense of humor. |
Even in the Wake of Suicide Blast, 'They Didn't Want to Go Back Home' By / WaPo — Permalink BAGHDAD, Jan. 30 — The young man wore a winter jacket over his explosive vest and approached the polling station with his hands in the pockets. "Take your hands out of your pockets," said Ali Jabur, the Iraqi police officer in charge of patting down voters on the street outside. | |
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Smash: But the Iraqis kept coming to the polls anyway â" in one case, waiting in line just a few feet away from the... Damian Penny: The best: after another suicide bomber (or was it the same guy?) killed five people at a Baghdad polling station, people still waited around to vote. PoliPundit: Suicide Bomber Succeeds, but Fails — This is an amazing story. |
Cori Dauber: Because the people were so intent on voting that they refused to go home. Betsy Newmark: It is so inspirational to read about Iraqis waiting in line to vote while the bodies of victims of a suicide blast are cleared away. |
Form Follows Fascism By / NYT — Permalink THE death last week of Philip Johnson, the nonagenarian enfant terrible, brought 20th-century architecture to a symbolic close. Even Mr. Johnson's friends sometimes doubted that he was an architect of the first rank, but friend and foe alike agreed that he was an emblematic figure of his time. | |
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James Panero: Mark Stevens's essay today comes as a welcome tonic to all this. Orrin Judd: Form Follows Fascism (MARK STEVENS, 1/31/05, NY Times) [snipped quote] It can hardly be surprising that anti-human building proceeded from such an anti-human personality. |
Andrew Sullivan: JOHNSON AND SONTAG: Check out Mark Stevens' interesting and tough assessment of the late architect Philip Johnson in the NYT. Rick Brookhiser: JOHNSON AND FASCISM — An op-ed in today's New York Times discusses Philip Johnson's fascism. A recent biography had the goods. |
Healthcare Overhaul Is Quietly Underway By / LAT — Permalink WASHINGTON — Emboldened by their success at the polls, the Bush administration and Republican leaders in Congress believe they have a new opportunity to move the nation away from the system of employer-provided health insurance that has covered most working Americans for the last half-century. | |
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Greg @TheTalentShow: The Bush Administration wants to take it away : "Emboldened by their success at the polls, the Bush administration and... |
Orrin Judd: LESSON ONE—WHEN HE SIGNS A BILL IT'S BECAUSE HE WON: Healthcare Overhaul Is Quietly Underway (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar,... |
Sen. Clinton Faints, Later Gives Speech By / AP — Permalink BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton fainted Monday after complaining of a stomach virus before a scheduled speech on Social Security. She received medical attention at the scene and then went on to give another speech at a Catholic college Monday afternoon. | |
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Kate @OTB: "All I Ate Was A Little Soup" — The leading contender for the 2008 Democratic nomination collapsed today just before she was to give an address on health care. |
John Cole: Hillary — Here is to wishing Hillary Clinton a speedy recovery. |
Acts of Bravery By / NYT — Permalink You'd have to be pretty hardhearted not to be moved by the courage of the millions of Iraqis who insisted on turning out to vote yesterday despite the very real threat that they would be walking into mayhem and violent death at the polls. | |
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Barbara O'Brien: Also, Bob Herbert writes in today's New York Times, [snipped quote] Herbert's entire column is very much worth reading. Steve Antler: Because he made the trains run on time... With what can only be described as a breathtaking lack of idealism and... Orrin Judd: "BUT" HEADS: Acts of Bravery (BOB HERBERT, 1/31/05, NY Times) "You'd have to be pretty hardhearted not to be moved by... |
Cori Dauber: So when Times columnist Bob Herbert writes: In a war with very few feel-good moments, yesterday's election would qualify as one. Stephen Green: Bored Now — When the first-ever free & fair election in the entire Arab world was held yesterday in Iraq, Bob Herbert... |
U.S. Judge: Guantanamo Tribunals Unconstitutional Reuters — Permalink WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. judge ruled on Monday that the Guantanamo military tribunals for terrorism suspects are unconstitutional. In a setback for the Bush administration, U.S. District Judge Joyce Hens Green also ruled the prisoners at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba have constitutional protections under the law. | |
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Steve Bainbridge: U.S. District Judge Joyce Hens Green is but the latest example: [snipped quote] Somebody needs to remind Judge Green of... Mathew Gross: Constitution — Reuters: "A U.S. judge ruled on Monday that the Guantanamo military tribunals for terrorism suspects are unconstitutional. |
Andrew Cochran: Story here, the memorandum decision is here, and the order is here. No doubt, the Administration will appeal this ruling. |
Sen. Clinton Recovers After Collapsing By / AP — Permalink BUFFALO, N.Y. - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton collapsed Monday during a speech on Social Security, moments after complaining about a stomach virus. "She fainted after not feeling well, got medical attention and is proceeding with her planned schedule," according to a statement released by her office in Washington. | |
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Ace: Hillary Overcome by Emotions — Drudge siren: "Hillary in Faint Scare" [snipped quote] Looks like she was finally... |
K. J. Lopez: RE: HRC — She had mentioned she wasn't feeling well because of a stomach flu. |
PRO-U.S. MAYOR HAS TARGET ON HIS BACK By / New York Post — Permalink BAGHDAD — The man replacing the mayor of Baghdad — who was assassinated for his pro-American loyalties — says he is not worried about his ties to Washington. In fact, he'd like to erect a monument to honor President Bush in the middle of the city. | |
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Roger L. Simon: Statue Talk — Here's something calculated to drive the Juan Coles of the world insane - the new mayor of Baghdad wants... Murray @SilentRunning: They're going to hook up all the lefties to dynamos when they read this... [snipped quote] I can see it now... W's Column... so much more tasteful than Clintons. Lorie Byrd: This Idea Could Force Some Into Therapy — Bush cast in bronze? Now that would really drive some people crazy. (Link via Drudge) |
Tbogg: A mans with the courage of his pimped-out ride — Ali Fadel shouldn't buy any green bananas: The man replacing the mayor... Donald Sensing: Baghdad mayor wants statue up — No, not a statue of Saddam. A statue of President Bush. Taegan Goddard: He is the symbol of freedom." — Ali Fadel, the new mayor of Baghdad, quoted by the New York Post. |
| Also: K. J. Lopez | |
Camille J. Gage: Note of caution is in order in the world of blogs Minneapolis Star Tribune — Permalink There's been much written lately of the ascendancy of the "blogosphere" and the declining influence of the mainstream media. Since "Rathergate," blogs have been heralded as a grassroots journalistic movement speaking truth to the media powers that be. | |
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Hindrocket: This Is Getting a Bit Tiresome — For the fifth time in the last six months, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and its columnists defamed us today. |
Atrios: Wankers. Prior to Hinderaker's presentation, the week before the November elections, I visited the Powerline site. |
Defying Threats, Millions of Iraqis Flock to Polls By / NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 30 - Defying death threats, mortars and suicide bombers, Iraqis turned out in great numbers on Sunday to vote in this country's first free elections in 50 years, offering a powerful, if uneven, endorsement of democratic rule 22 months after Saddam Hussein was overthrown. | |
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Diplomad: New York Times recognized that those elections were a singular achievement, "At least for now, the large turnout... |
Gail Heriot: Iraq — Bless them. They came. |
Social Security redesign debated By / Raleigh News & Observer — Permalink Marc Major, 34, isn't worried and has no plan to follow the Social Security debate. Major, a Durham resident who just completed a master's degree at Northwestern University, said young people don't project the future well. | |
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Josh Marshall: Rep. Howard — Coble (R) of North Carolina sidling up to the Conscience Caucus? |
Ed Cone: Howard Coble spoke bravely about our lack of planning in Iraq...now he's hinting that he may not back Bush on Social Security. |
The New Boss By / NYT — Permalink Purple is the color of Andrew Stern's life. He wears, almost exclusively, purple shirts, purple jackets and purple caps. He carries a purple duffel bag and drinks bottled water with a purple label, emblazoned with the purple logo of the Service Employees International Union, of which Stern is president. | |
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Sam Rosenfeld: LABOR'S CRISIS. Nathan Newman takes a few well-chosen shots at Matt Bai's New York Times Magazine profile of Andy Stern. Nathan Newman: Celebrity-Driven Labor Coverage — The Sunday NY Times Magazine gave Andy Stern the front page treatment and the result was sadly disappointing. |
Chris Nolan: There is perhaps - although that's not what he meant by the story - no better illustration of the simmering conflicts... |
Birth of a Nation? By / Slate — Permalink Few sights are more stirring than the televised images of Iraqi citizens risking their lives to vote in their country's first election in a half-century, kissing the ballot boxes, dancing in the streets, and declaring their hopes for a new day of democracy. | |
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Howard Kurtz: Slate's Fred Kaplan is, as they say, cautiously optimistic: "Few sights are more stirring than the televised images of... Laura Rozen: Slate's Fred Kaplan on the Iraqi elections: [snipped quote] Preparing for the worst and being pleasantly surprised is a... |
Orrin Judd: BUT FILES: -Birth of a Nation? |
Palestinian Authority Claremont Institute — Permalink In November 1993, the New York Times Magazine featured a remarkably unprescient essay by Edward Said titled "The Phony Islamic Threat." He charged the media, government bureaucrats, and Middle East experts with conjuring an Islamic bogeyman to demonize at home and abroad. | |
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James Panero: PostedA thank you to The Claremont Review of Books and Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs for creating a special... |
Stefan Beck: PostedJames Panero offers some thoughts on a late "Palestinian authority": [snipped quote] Read the whole thing at the Claremont Review of Books. |
Pro-Bush forces gear up for Supreme struggle By / Washington Times — Permalink Supporters of President Bush's judicial nominees have hired the same media firm used by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth for their efforts to defend the next nominee for any upcoming Supreme Court vacancy. | |
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Nathan Hallford: Fed Society Gets Active: The Washington Times reports, today, that the Federalist Society has hired the media firm... Eugene Oregon: Principles vs Politics — From the Washington Times "Supporters of President Bush's judicial nominees have hired the... |
Todd Zywicki: Supreme Court Nominations—It's Gonna Get Ugly: From today's Washington Times, "Supporters of President Bush's judicial... |
Discovery Phase By / American Prospect — Permalink It's official. With recent news of lawsuits over the teaching of evolution in both Georgia and Pennsylvania, even Time magazine now considers the fight over Charles Darwin's theory a live issue again. | |
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Nathan Newman: That said, here is the American Prospect on ID: [snipped quote] Why is this somehow an "a ha" revelation? |
Chris Mooney: My Latest American Prospect Column — Entitled "Discovery Phase," it's about the new anti-evolutionism (same as the old anti-evolutionism). |
Happy Birthday By / Opinion Journal — Permalink "Iraqis Begin Voting After Rocket Blast Strikes U.S. Embassy" read the four-column front-page headline in yesterday's New York Times. In the print edition, the lead story, by Dexter Filkins, bore the headline "2 Are Killed—More Attacks Are Vowed." | |
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Joe Gandelman: Lots of GOOD NEWS FROM IRAQ — Arthur Chrenkoff, who has persistantly rounded up good news from Iraq that he thinks the... Glenn Reynolds: ARTHUR CHRENKOFF rounds up good news from Iraq — and there's more of it than usual. Scott Sala: Iraqi Election Day Roundup — Arthur Chrenkoff has a massive roundup of Iraqi election news. (see also his blog) |
Arthur Chrenkoff: Good news from Iraq, Part 20 — Note: Also available at the "Opinion Journal" and Winds of Change. Pejman Yousefzadeh: But it stands to reason that Arthur Chrenkoff would cover it. FrancoAlemán: AFTER THE BIG DAY, Arthur Chrenkoff is again with his superb roundup of good news from Iraq, now more than ever. |
| Also: Cori Dauber, Kevin Aylward, Stephen Green | |
The Reachable Star NRO — Permalink War-ravaged elections and human freedom. In the short history of this novel democratic experiment, the national election would easily be the single most critical development ever...if there actually could be an election worthy of the name. That was in grave doubt. | |
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Richard Reeb: Free Elections During War — Andrew McCarthy at NRO draws historical parallels between Iraq, 2005 and the United States,... |
JoelL @SouthernAppeal: Read it here. Strange how history has a way of repeating itself. |
Dean's howling to lead DNC By / NY Daily News — Permalink HOWARD DEAN, THE favorite to be the next head of the Democratic National Committee, made his case in midtown yesterday, promising to make his party operate more like the GOP - at least when it comes to elections. | |
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Steve Bainbridge: Howard Dean Hates Freedom [quote] "I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for ...." (Link) [end quote] So spoke Howard Dean at the latest Democrat DNC forum. Michael DeBow: One Democrat's philosophy summarized: "I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for . . . ." says future DNC Chairman Howard Dean, in today's NY Daily News. |
Charles Johnson: Howard Dean: Hatemonger — Howard Dean, now being groomed for the leadership of the Democratic National Committee, is... Kathryn Jean Lopez: Here's the DNC chair fave, Howard Dean, Saturday: "I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for..." |
Blogger's Cuban slant draws fans By / Miami Herald — Permalink Valentin ''Val'' Prieto has few memories of Cuba: the lone plum tree in the backyard of his home in Oriente province, a frail neighbor who regularly slipped him candy through the chain-link fence — and the day his whole family cried. | |
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Michelle Malkin: FIDEL CASTRO'S BLOGGING NEMESIS — The Miami Herald spotlights Babalu Blog, a fresh, funny, and fiercely anti-Castro blog run by Valentin Prieto. |
Bill @INDCJournal: Blogger Makes it Big — Val Prieto is featured in a front-page profile in the Miami Herald. That's no small feat. |
Congressional Republicans Agree To Launch Social Security Campaign By / WaPo — Permalink WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Congressional Republicans, after three months of internal debate, this weekend launched a months-long campaign to try to convince constituents that rewriting the Social Security law would be cheaper and less risky than leaving... | |
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Nathan Nance: Also from this weekend's meeting, a 104-page playbook on how to sell privatization to the American people. Josh Marshall: Mike Allen has a nice piece in tomorrow's Post about the congressional Republican retreat in West Virginia and their... Orrin Judd: STATISTS VS. PRIVATIZERS: Congressional Republicans Agree To Launch Social Security Campaign (Mike Allen, January 31,... |
Steve Soto: We get word in this morning's Washington Post that the details and battle plan to be used by the White House and RNC... Eugene Oregon: Republican Playbook — Kos got his hands on the Republican's 104 page "Saving Social Security" playbook detailing their campaign to privatize Social Security. |
Bartender, Pour Me Another Cup By / WaPo — Permalink America's largest brewing company, Anheuser-Busch, released its latest product last week — a beer that contains caffeine. Obviously, this is a monumental cultural milestone and it raises important questions that we as a society must answer. | |
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William J. Dyer: Then deep down, way down in the "Other Headlines" section, just before a genuinely important story headlined "Bartender,... Lambert @Corrente: "America's largest brewing company, Anheuser-Busch, released its latest product last week — a beer that contains caffeine. (via WaPo) Cori Dauber: We Have Been Waiting for This Day for a Very Long Time — No, I am not talking about the Iraqi elections. |
Michael Froomkin: Bartender, Pour Me Another Cup: America's largest brewing company, Anheuser-Busch, released its latest product last week — a beer that contains caffeine. Ed Driscoll: The Best Thing Since Skittlebrau — Two words—just two simple words: caffeinated beer. John J. Miller: Here's a new drink that I'm sure will be coming to NR's offices soon: caffeinated beer. |
For a Battered Populace, a Day of Civic Passion By / NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 30 - Nobody among the hundreds of voters thronging one Baghdad polling station on Sunday could remember anything remotely like it, not even those old enough to have taken part in Iraq's last partly free elections more than 50 years ago, before the assassination of King Faisal II began a spiraling descent into tyranny. | |
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Susan Q. Stranahan: At Captain's Quarters, Capt. Ed 'fesses that he usually is no fan of the New York Times (no surprise... Howard Kurtz: The New York Times is exultant from Baghdad: "Nobody among the hundreds of voters thronging one Baghdad polling station... Orrin Judd: TOO GOOD FOR THE TIMES: For a Battered Populace, a Day of Civic Passion (JOHN F. BURNS, 1/31/05, NY Times)... |
Captain Ed: His report today on the Iraqi election is no exception. Cori Dauber: What can I say, read the whole thing, you'll be better informed — and isn't that supposed to be the point? Nathan Newman: Two Cheers for Iraqi Elections — That Iraqis would exercise their right to go to the polls is encouraging, but you have... |
| Also: Gregory Djerejian | |
Target: Mapes By / New York Magazine — Permalink The sad thing about not being a round-the-clock celebrity is that when you do have the misfortune to be thrust into the public eye, there is rarely a photograph around that makes you look good. | |
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Scott Sala: There are also featured articles on Mary Mapes and RatherBiased. (Hat Tip RatherBiased) Captain Ed has some lengthy analysis. |
Jim Treacher: Talk about having big shoes to fill! bigshoes.PNG (Click the image to read the story.) |
Next step has entirely new set of challenges By / AFP — Permalink But what's harder to foresee now is how a new government, even one with enthusiastic voter support, can tackle a daunting agenda that must be carried out before Iraq can be stable, self-sufficient and secure. The new government must: | |
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James Joyner: Next Step Has Entirely New Set Of Challenges (USAT, p. 6) "Before the vote, there was skepticism about the ability of... |
Howard Kurtz: The pattern is that the stories that focus on what happened yesterday are extremely upbeat; those that examine the... |
Courage Under Fire LAT — Permalink It takes courage to vote with the sound of mortars and gunfire still ringing and memories of terrorist beheadings still fresh. Whatever the final tally of the turnout Sunday in Iraq, the willingness of millions to defy suicide bombers and killers who threatened havoc at the polls provided some unequivocal good news. | |
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Steven Taylor: The LAT piece is similar in tone to WaPo's, although with some Sunni-concern thrown in a la the NYT: Courage Under Fire... |
Captain Ed: The LAT appears more ready to concede that the elections were a resounding success and give credit for Bush's tenacity... |
A Vote to Persevere WaPo — Permalink FOR MONTHS news from Iraq has told the story of the extremists, those who destroy themselves to murder others and to proclaim the cause of a religious or Baathist dictatorship. | |
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Steven Taylor: WaPo's lead editorial (A Vote to Persevere) on the subject is more straightforward, while expressing an obligatory "this... K. J. Lopez: "A VOTE TO PERSEVERE" — Washington Post editorial: "Yesterday, however, Americans finally got a good look at who they... |
Cori Dauber: The WaPo Editorial Board Weighs In — Man, I wish I could write like this: FOR MONTHS news from Iraq has told the story... |
Rush for the Border Opinion Journal — Permalink ORLANDO, Fla.—In the aftermath of 9/11, conservatives bottled up their frustrations over some of President Bush's policies. Then they muted their criticism during the presidential campaign. But now it is spilling out in all directions—and the White House had better pay attention. | |
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McQ: The coming right-wing backlash — According to John Fund, none other than the "Godfather" of right-wing radio, Rush... |
Michelle Malkin: John Fund writes today about the impact Limbaugh could have in stopping the amnesty insanity proposed by the Bush... |
Looking for Purple Fingers in Sadr City By / NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq — DEMOCRACY won in a landslide yesterday here in Sadr City, the epicenter of Iraqi politics. Iraq's Shiites outnumber its Sunni Arabs by five to one, and when they rise up, this Baghdad slum is where they do it. | |
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Cori Dauber: Politics at Work — Here's a fascinating piece that describes reasons for optimism going forward (despite low Sunni... |
Orrin Judd: PURPLE REVOLUTION: Looking for Purple Fingers in Sadr City: Let nobody tell you that this Iraqi election was anything but real. |
Marketing Darfur By / WaPo — Permalink I once wrote a column about the epic struggle between Eric Reeves and Madeleine Albright. Albright was the secretary of state at the time; Reeves was practically unheard of. He was a lover of Milton and Shakespeare who taught at Smith College in Massachusetts. | |
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Eugene Oregon: The Washington Post's Sebastian Mallaby has a great article on Eric Reeves. |
Cori Dauber: We Interrupt This Celebration — For a reminder that the power of the Internet can be the power to move the government... |
Bombers Kill 35; Turnout Heavy Among Shiites and Kurds By / NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 30 - Defying death threats, mortars and suicide bombers, Iraqis turned out in great numbers on Sunday to vote in this country's first free elections in 50 years, offering a powerful, if uneven, endorsement of democratic rule 22 months after Saddam Hussein was overthrown. | |
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Tom Burka: Iraqi Election Held; First Step Toward American-Style Democracy Taken — Powerful Lobbyists For Special Interests To Be... Virginia Postrel: Contrary to the impression you might have gotten from assorted blogs—the impression, indeed, that Professor Postrel got... |
Juan Cole: The death toll in Sunday's guerrilla attacks rose to 44, with about 100 wounded. One attack late in the day in Mosul wounded 7 US troops. |
Iraq's holy city of Najaf swarms with voters By / Reuters — Permalink NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Some rode on donkey-carts. Others piled into buses laid on for voters. Most came on foot, steadying the elderly and pushing the disabled in wheelchairs to the ballot box. | |
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Juan Cole: Three views of the voting in the Shiite shrine city of Najaf, Sistani's adopted city: Sistani's adopted city, Najaf,... |
Arthur Chrenkoff: In other part of the Shia south, the enthusiasm was just as palatable: "Some rode on donkey-carts. Others piled into buses laid on for voters. |
Iraq's mark of freedom: Ink stains CNN — Permalink BAQUBA, Iraq (CNN) — An Iraqi man named Saad proudly displayed his ink-stained finger on Sunday, after defying terrorist threats and voting in Iraq's first free election in half a century. "We are defeating the terrorists as we are coming here," Saad said, pointing his index finger into the air. | |
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Ann Althouse: So read a sign in Baghdad, yesterday, encouraging voters, according to CNN. |
Arthur Chrenkoff: Al Zarqawi promised that the streets would flow red with the blood of voters, and indeed at least 36 people around the... |
Storm brewing over glitches in Typhoon Scotsman — Permalink THE seriously delayed and massively over budget Eurofighter Typhoon is so unreliable it is barely airborne, according to the German government, which has just taken delivery of a squadron of the 60m planes. | |
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Jane Galt: Vodkapundit reports: More trouble for the Eurofighter - it hardly flies, much less fights: [snipped quote] Luckily for... |
Stephen Green: Tom Clancy Smirk-Fest — More trouble for the Eurofighter - it hardly flies, much less fights: [snipped quote] Despite... |
Letwin member of anti-war tax group By / Telegraph — Permalink Oliver Letwin, the shadow chancellor, is backing plans for pacifist taxpayers to be allowed not to contribute to the Government's defence spending. He was identified yesterday as a supporter of Conscience: The Peace Tax Campaign, which wants the law to be... | |
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Avedon Carol: Letwin member of anti-war tax group Oliver Letwin, the shadow chancellor, is backing plans for pacifist taxpayers to be... Orrin Judd: PUT THE TORIES OUT OF OUR MISERY: Letwin member of anti-war tax group (Andrew Sparrow, 31/01/2005, Daily Telegraph) [snipped quote] He's not a flying pig, he's a flaming idiot. |
Andrew Stuttaford: OK, THAT'S IT. More news from the Tories: [snipped quote] I despair. |
Bombs keep Sunnis away Times of London — Permalink WHILE Shiite areas of Iraq's capital rushed to embrace a new dawn of democracy yesterday, daybreak in many Sunni areas of western Baghdad was grimly predictable: bursts of gunfire in the half light followed by an ominous silence. | |
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Steve Soto: But as more and more details come out about today's vote, it appears that many Sunni areas were empty of voters and... |
Stephen Green: Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before — Reporting from Baghdad, Times (of London) reporters James Hider and... |
Iraqi voters defy the bombers Guardian — Permalink Millions of Iraqis defied a surge of bombings and suicide attacks yesterday to go to the polls in greater than expected numbers for the first democratic elections for 50 years. The electoral commission's provisional estimate of turnout was 57%. | |
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Avedon Carol: Iraqi voters defy the bombers Millions of Iraqis defied a surge of bombings and suicide attacks yesterday to go to the... |
Steve Soto: Degree Of Sunni NonParticipation Now Becoming Clear — Tomorrow's Guardian reports that revised estimates in Iraq put... |
60 pc turnout despite threats By / Telegraph — Permalink On foot, on crutches and in wheelchairs Iraqis defied the death threats of extremists and voted in their millions yesterday in their country's first free election in half a century. | |
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Avedon Carol: Telegraph 60 pc turnout despite threats On foot, on crutches and in wheelchairs Iraqis defied the death threats of... |
Captain Ed: Turnout Numbers Settle In At 60% The London Telegraph reports in its morning edition that the estimated turnout in the... |
Voter turnout in Iraq reflects an electorate eager to grasp democracy, U.S. pollsters say By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON (AP) Even with widespread violence in Iraq, voters there showed a passion for democracy by apparently turning out in numbers comparable to a typical election in the United States. | |
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Lambert @Corrente: Sayeth Republican pollster Frank Luntz: "''Americans will watch the pictures over the next few days and you'll see support for the war increase,'' said Luntz. |
DJ Drummond: A Thought For The Day — The results are early, but even the Associated Press is starting to acknowledge the obvious:... |
Transcript for Jan. 30 MSNBC — Permalink PLEASE CREDIT ANY QUOTES OR EXCERPTS FROM THIS NBC TELEVISION PROGRAM TO "NBC NEWS' MEET THE PRESS." This is a rush transcript provided for the information and convenience of the press. Accuracy is not guaranteed. In case of doubt, please check with: | |
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Kevin Aylward: Sunday January 30, 2005 - The date John Kerry agrees to sign Form 180, authorizing release of his complete military record. Diplomad: Listen to the leader speak, "I think it's gone as expected. it is significant that there is a vote in Iraq. Dale Franks: And who is NBC's go-to guy to talk to Tim Russert on this day? Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), the man whose vision about Iraq was rejected by the American people. |
Hugh Hewitt: On yesterday's Meet the Press, Tim Russert confronted John Kerry on numerous questions connected to John Kerry's Vietnam service. Frederick Maryland: Kerry Remains a Passionless Equivocator — Watching John Kerry this Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" with Tim Russert... Tom Maguire: Hanoi John, We Hardly Knew Ye — John Kerry confesses to treason on Meet The Press: [snipped quote] Running guns to the Khmer Rouge? |
| Also: John Cole, PoliPundit, Ann Althouse, The Big Trunk, Kate @OTB, Judith Weiss, Scott Sala, Captain Ed, Charles Johnson, Taegan Goddard, Wind Rider, Orrin Judd, K. J. Lopez | |
Chairman Kim's dissolving kingdom Times of London — Permalink FAR across the frozen river two figures hurried from the North Korean shore, slip-sliding on the ice as they made a break for the Chinese riverbank to escape a regime that, by many accounts, is now entering its death throes. | |
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Will Collier: The Dark Side At Bay — From elsewhere in the Axis of Evil, check out this facinating Sunday Times (UK) piece by Michael Sheridan. Damian Penny: Time's up, Kim — I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high, but Times reporter Michael Sheridan, visiting North Korea,... Charles Johnson: Another Crack in the Wall — Is the anti-human communist edifice of North Korea beginning to collapse? |
Jane Galt: Something's afoot in the land of Dear Leader. I went to school with a fellow who had been in Naval Intelligence, stationed in South Korea, before matriculating. Andrew Sullivan: IS NOKO COLLAPSING? Some hopeful news from the worst remaining dictatorship on the planet: Kim Jong Il's. Pejman Yousefzadeh: MAYBE WE CAN START A TREND — Now that we have had free elections in Iraq, maybe we can work on getting free elections... |
| Also: Charles Bird, Richard TPD, Orrin Judd, PoliPundit, Glenn Reynolds, Andrew Stuttaford | |
Iraqis Brave Bombs to Vote in Their Millions By / Reuters — Permalink BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Some came on crutches, others walked for miles then struggled to read the ballot, but across Iraq, millions turned out to vote Sunday, defying insurgents who threatened a bloodbath. | |
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Arthur Chrenkoff: Elsewhere in the capital, "Western Baghdad polling stations were busy, with long queues of voters. Ace: The MSM's Response to the Iraqi Election — Cross posted at The Urban Grind On the one hand, you have joyous Iraqi's... Jonah Goldberg: WOW — If this is Reuters' coverage it's hard to imagine how you can't call this election a staggering success: "BAGHDAD... |
McQ: Everywhere, turnout was better than expected, even in troublespots: "Even in Falluja, the Sunni city west of Baghdad... Steve Soto: Voting was heavier than expected in Baghdad, Fallujah, and Mosul, and there were reports of long lines in many places. Pejman Yousefzadeh: In any event, the facts on the ground show Senator Kerry to be clueless and desperate: "Some came on crutches, others... |
| Also: Mitch Berg, Barbara O'Brien, Jan Haugland, Joe Gandelman, Daniel Drezner, Bill @INDCJournal, Harry @HarrysPlace, Cori Dauber, Roger L. Simon, Hindrocket, FrancoAlemán, Dean Esmay, Nick Gillespie, Norm Geras | |
Fowler 1, Dean 0 By / Time — Permalink A dent was knocked into the aura of inevitability surrounding Howard Dean's run to be the next Democratic Party chair Sunday afternoon when the executive committee of state party chairs voted to endorse Donnie Fowler rather than Dean. | |
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Taegan Goddard: Time notes "a dent was knocked into the aura of inevitability surrounding" Dean's run to be the next party chair. Orrin Judd: ROVE WEPT: Fowler 1, Dean 0: The former Vermont governor's candidacy to lead the DNC hits a snag (VIVECA A. NOVAK, Jan... Steve Soto: Party Insiders Vote Against Dean This Afternoon — Just when we thought it was possible that the national party would be... |
Jenny Greenleaf: Fowler endorsed by State Dem Chairs' executive committee — The executive committee of the Association of State... Matt Stoller: Executive Committee of the ASDC Picks Donnie — The son of former DNC Chair Don Fowler was endorsed by the Executive... Byron LaMasters: Wow. This is an upset. The executive committee of state party chairs endorsed Donnie Fowler today, via MyDD. |
| Also: Jeff Quinton, Kevin Drum | |
Millions of Iraqis Vote; Attacks Kill 35 By / Reuters — Permalink BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Millions of Iraqis flocked to vote in a historic election on Sunday, defying insurgents who killed 35 people in a bloody assault on the poll. Voters, some ululating with joy, others hiding their faces in fear, cast ballots in higher-than-expected numbers in Iraq's first multi-party election in half a century. | |
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Arthur Chrenkoff: While many areas throughout the Sunni triangle (like Tikrit or Samarra) were deserted, elsewhere throughout this restive... Andrew Olmsted: TOP TOPICS "The people have won." The elections are over. |
Jan Haugland: PS: The early turnout figure, at first estimated to a stunning 72 % of the electorate, has later been cast into doubt. DeLong: Iraqi Elections Going Well — Reuters reports: "Top News Article | Reuters.com: Millions of Iraqis flocked to vote in... |
Voting, Not Violence, Is the Big Story on Arab TV By / NYT — Permalink AMMAN, Jordan, Jan. 30 - Sometime after the first insurgent attack in Iraq this morning, news directors at Arab satellite channels and newspaper editors found themselves facing an altogether new decision: should they report on the violence, or continue to cover the elections themselves? | |
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Jan Haugland: Arab news channels give wide coverage to Iraqi elections — The New York Times' Hassan M. Fattah reports on an important development in Arab media. Robert Tagorda: In the end, however, even Al Jazeera's coverage is relatively glowing, as the New York Times explains (via Greg... Ann Althouse: That's the headline — at least for now — on this NYT report: [snipped quote] Beautiful! |
Jon Henke: Bradford Plumer points to some good signs from the Arab media... "It seems that the big bad Arab media boogeymen,... Orrin Judd: HOPEFULLY THEY DIDN'T "OVERHYPE" THE STORY: Voting, Not Violence, Is the Big Story on Arab TV (HASSAN M. FATTAH,... Hindrocket: But it's heartening to see the New York Times report that "Voting, Not Violence, Is the Big Story on Arab TV":... |
| Also: Gregory Djerejian | |
Amid Attacks, a Party Atmosphere on Baghdad's Closed Streets By / NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 30 - After a slow start, voters turned out in very large numbers in Baghdad today, packing polling places and creating a party atmosphere in the streets as Iraqis here and nationwide turned out to cast ballots in the country's first free elections in more than 50 years. | |
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John Hawkins: Despite reporters' hopes that a well-orchestrated barrage of mortar attacks and suicide bombings would put down the... Daniel Drezner: Dexter Filkins' account in the New York Times is positively effusive: "[If] the insurgents wanted to stop people in Baghdad from voting, they failed. Glenn Reynolds: (Both via The Corner). UPDATE: The New York Times is even reporting a "party atmosphere" in Baghdad. |
Joe Gandelman: One piece of evidence that this vote became more than just "an election" but an event with special historical, almost... Steve Antler: Total irony, this Cavett guy. UPDATE III: Via Instapundit — NYT reports party atmosphere in Baghdad. Captain Ed: Gray Lady Acknowledges Victory — The New York Times gives an unequivocal look at the astounding victory for democracy... |
| Also: Orrin Judd, Josh Chafetz, James Joyner, Steve M., Bigwig, Andrew Sullivan | |
Turnout Appears High as Iraq Vote Ends WaPo — Permalink BAGHDAD, Jan. 30 — Iraqis voted in their first democratic election in nearly half a century Sunday with many observers saying the day appeared to have yielded higher turnout than expected and less violence than feared. Insurgents killed about two dozen people, including a U.S. Marine. | |
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Cori Dauber: Mostly Just look at the lead paragraph: Millions of Iraqis turned out Sunday to cast ballots in the country's first free... Daniel Drezner: The Washington Post reports that, "Carlos Valenzuela, the United Nations' chief election adviser in Iraq, told CNN that... Lambert @Corrente: Anyhow, here's something that's closer to a bottom line: "The turnout appeared to follow predicted lines: High in the... |
Bill @INDCJournal: (Faleh Kheiber/Reuters) WaPo: "Iraq's first democratic election in nearly half a century neared its conclusion Sunday... Judith Weiss: UPDATE: No, let's let Mohammed Nuhair Rubaie, the director of a Baghdad polling station, have the last word: "It's like a wedding. Kevin Drum: The Washington Post reports that the election "yielded higher turnout than expected and less violence than feared." |
| Also: Armando @DailyKos, Gregory Djerejian | |
High Turnout in Baghdad Points to Early Success By / NYT — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 30 - After a slow start, voters turned out in very large numbers in Baghdad today, packing polling places and creating a party atmosphere in the streets, which were closed to traffic but full of children playing soccer, and men and women, some carrying babies. | |
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Joe Gandelman: Iraqis Overwhelmingly Endorse Democracy And Defy Terrorism — Alyawarinkymiddlefinger_1 Iraqi Voters Send Insurgents A... Von @ObsidianWings: Today, we see the fruits of his steadfastness: A vote that, by initial accounts, was a spectacular success. John Cole: At any rate, it appears that even the NY Times can find no way to spin this negatively: "After a slow start, voters... |
McQ: Even the NYTimes couldn't find a way to report it negatively: "The voting in Baghdad streets of Baghdad were closed to... Kevin Drum: The New York Times says there was a "party atmosphere" on the streets of Baghdad. Jan Haugland: The NYT: After a slow start, voters turned out in very large numbers in Baghdad today, packing polling places and... |
| Also: Steve Antler, Matthew Yglesias, Gregory Djerejian, Ed Cone | |
Rice: Iraqi Election Tops Expectations By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the Iraqi elections went "better than expected" Sunday, despite conflicting reports about the extent of voter turnout in areas plagued by intimidation and violence. | |
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Smash: JOHN KERRY: "It is hard to say that something is legitimate when whole portions of the country can't vote and doesn't vote." Mitch Berg: Leftypolitician, George Soros project and failed presidential candidate John Kerry: [snipped quote] I guess the 1866 and 1872 US elections should be recalled, right? Ace: Kerry Talks Down Iraq Election [Say Anything] [quote] AP - "It is hard to say that something is legitimate when whole portions...[end quote] |
Jeff Goldstein: If you have time today, take John Cole's challenge. Roger L. Simon: [The MSM-ed. ] And John Kerry sounds like a reactionary jerk. And this man seems equally irrelevant. Michelle Malkin: Here's a taste: [snipped quote] While Iraqis rejoice, Ramsey Clark weeps. John Kerry pouts. Feminists are AWOL. |
| Also: Sadly, No! | |
Soros Says Kerry's Failings Undermined Campaign Against Bush Bloomberg — Permalink Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) — Billionaire investor George Soros, the biggest financial contributor to the failed effort to defeat President George W. Bush in November's election, said Democratic challenger John Kerry was a flawed candidate. | |
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B.C: You Know You Suck When..... ...your biggest financial backer calls you "an incoherent, non-credible candidate". Steve Bainbridge: Soros — George Soros is blaming the messenger: [snipped quote] I love the fact that left-liberals like Soros just don't get it. Taegan Goddard: Soros Blasts Kerry — Billionaire investor George Soros — who spent $26 million in the failed effort to defeat... |
Ace: George Soros: Kerry Sucked [Ace] Via The New Vintage (who "questions the timing"), George Soros has the long,... Orrin Judd: NO, THE OTHER GEORGE: Soros Says Kerry's Failings Undermined Campaign Against Bush (Bloomberg, 1/30/05) "Billionaire... Greyhawk: Memo to Next Democratic Presidential Candidate — When you're turn comes to be George Soros' bitch, don't screw it up. |
| Also: K. J. Lopez, Joe Gandelman | |
Iraqis vote amid violence CNN — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Polls have closed and ballot counting has begun after Iraq's first free election in a half century, with officials reporting a higher than expected turnout of registered voters amid attacks and threats of violence. | |
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Glenn Reynolds: CNN is reporting a 72% turnout. [Later: Some readers think that will turn out to be high, with the final number more like 60%. John Cole: Congrats, Iraqi's — From what I hear on MSNBC and CNN, turnout in Iraq has been fantastic- up to 72%. |
Joe Gandelman: (More than 72 percent of the Iraqis — better turnout than in U.S. elections— headed to the polls.) |
Elections Are Not Democracy By / Newsweek — Permalink Feb. 7 issue - By the time you read this, you will know how the elections in Iraq have gone. No matter what the violence, the elections are an important step forward, for Iraq and for the Middle East. | |
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Jeff Goldstein: Meantime, I'm gonna drop Fareed Zakaria (who I really do respect) an email and tell him to stop pissing in the PUNCH... |
Smash: FAREED ZAKARIA warns, "the prospects for genuine democracy in Iraq are increasingly grim." |
Polls Close in Historic Iraqi Elections Fox News — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq — The polls in Iraq have closed, ending the country's first open elections in more than 50 years and setting a course for what U.S. officials hope will be a long democratic future. All around the country, Iraqis defied threats of violence and cast their votes. | |
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Pejman Yousefzadeh: When 72% of eligible voters come out and exercise their rights, it becomes hard to deride an election where turnout was supposed to be abysmally low. Hindrocket: Turnout is being estimated at around 72 percent of eligible voters. |
Leopold Stotch: 72 Percent Turnout in Iraqi Elections — Polls are closed in Iraq, and it's being reported that 72 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. Ace: Second, there's this: "BAGHDAD, Iraq — The polls in Iraq have closed, ending the country's first open elections in... |
Bombers strike as Iraqis vote CNN — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Iraq's historic election day is nearing its close with the independent election commission reporting a 72 percent nationwide turnout by mid-afternoon amid attacks and threats of attacks to disrupt the vote. | |
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John Hawkins: Iraqi Voting Disrupts News Reports Of Bombings By Scott Ott — News reports of terrorist bombings in Iraq were marred... Ezra Klein: In fact, odds are neither our military nor cable bureaus will be playing a big role in them... Update: Well scratch my predictive powers, there was plenty of violence. Andrew Quinn: More Election Thoughts 72%. The terrorists have failed. Freedom has prevailed. |
Ace: When I woke up just now, the Iraqis had finished— in record numbers, without the widespread violence everyone, including me, had feared. Roger L. Simon: Wowee! 72% voter turnout in Iraq. Democracy triumphs! Don't gloat with your friends who said we did the wrong thing. Jim Dallas: There were several cowardly bombings in Baghdad, as well as other acts of violence. Will the elections produce a clear winner? |
| Also: Rickheller @Centerfield, Akiva Marks, John Cole | |
Iraq is going to be just fine By / Chicago Sun Times — Permalink In Europe, the wise old foreign-policy ''realists'' scoff at today's elections in Iraq — Islam and democracy are completely incompatible, old boy; everybody knows that, except these naive blundering Yanks who just don't have our experience, frankly. | |
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Judith Weiss: Afterglow. Iraqi election link roundup here. Mary and I met at Susan's apartment this afternoon to watch the Spirit of America coverage on C-SPAN. Roger Kimball: Journalists struggled to put a positive spin on the day's events, but the video images of tyranny's traitors choosing a... Betsy Newmark: Mark Steyn points out the weakness of all those Realpolitik diplomats who preferred stability with dictators than instability wiht democracy. |
Dale Franks: Iraq will be OK — Mark Steyn writes that Iraq is going to be alright. [snipped quote] The "Sunni side of the street"? Michael DeBow: Also, don't miss Mark Steyn's Sunday column. Glenn Reynolds: MARK STEYN: [snipped quote] Read the whole thing. Though actually, as noted below, the coverage has been better than most of us expected. |
| Also: K. J. Lopez | |
Iraqis clash at polling station BBC — Permalink Iraqis have clashed with demonstrators against the election outside a polling station in Manchester. About 200 demonstrators were chased by another group who burned their flags, while other Iraqis clashed with police. | |
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David T: Or this story - bizarrely and coincidently involving the manager of Oldham Athletic - from Manchester: About 200... Andrew Stuttaford: The BBC reports that "about 200 demonstrators were chased by another group who burned their flags, while other Iraqis clashed with police." Orrin Judd: Iraqis clash at polling station (BBC, 1/30/05) [snipped quote] Should have burned the demonstrators. |
Jan Haugland: Election violence in England — Violence broke out as Iraqis were about to vote, in Manchester in England! Norm Geras: The demonstrators were from an Islamic group; the ones who got upset with them were... Iraqis: [snipped quote] Who knows, maybe it could prefigure something wider. |
Reporters' log: Iraqi elections BBC — Permalink Voting is under way across Iraq to elect a transitional Iraqi assembly amid unprecedented security and threats from Iraqi insurgents to attack polling booths. BBC correspondents report on the latest events from across the region. | |
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Arthur Chrenkoff: Ben Brown from Basra: "Turnout here has been extraordinary. Wretchard: The BBC reporter's notebook gives area-by-area impressions of the voting. Ed Cone: Iraq election coverage from BBC. Early reports look quite good. |
Jan Haugland: Also look at the BBC's reporters' log. The 72% turnout estimates are probably guesstimates, but if true it is astonishing . McQ: The BBC gave an hour by hour, place by place update: "We have seen voting here in the capital, and in the streets close to the BBC office the atmosphere was almost euphoric. Laura Rozen: Here's MSNBC on the vote so far. Update: Nice coverage of voting day from the BBC here and here. |
| Also: Glenn Reynolds | |
In defense of Saddam Hussein By / Houston Chronicle — Permalink In late December, I traveled to Amman, Jordan, and met with the family and lawyers of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. I told them that I would help in his defense in any way I could. The news, when it found its way back to the United States, caused something of a stir. | |
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Mitch Berg: [UPDATE: Almost nobody] As I write this, the reports read that there were over 40 dead yesterday, all Iraqis, mostly cops and soldiers and the eight homicide bombers. K. J. Lopez: TOUGH DAYS FOR SADDAM — Fortunately, Ramsey Clark is still looking out for him. |
Captain Ed: Ramsey Clark does his cover version of the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy For The Devil" in the op-ed pages of the Houston... Michelle Malkin: MEANWHILE, RAMSEY CLARK WEEPS FOR SADDAM — Ramsey Clark, the terrorists' lawyer, has an op-ed piece out today in the Houston Chronicle in defense of Saddam Hussein. |
Bush Aims To Forge A GOP Legacy WaPo — Permalink When President Bush stands before Congress on Wednesday night to deliver his State of the Union address, it is a safe bet that he will not announce that one of his goals is the long-term enfeeblement of the Democratic Party. | |
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New Donkey: But Tom Edsall and John Harris of the Washington Post manage to convey something of importance in today's brief but... Kevin Drum: Thomas Edsall and John Harris do a good job of deconstructing this in the Washington Post today. It's worth reading. Taegan Goddard: Weakening Democrats to Build a Legacy — The Washington Post notes that "a recurring theme of many items on" President... |
Betsy Newmark: The Washington Post theorizes that Bush is choosing policies that will build the GOP base. And what is so surprising about that? Rickheller @Centerfield: Undermining The Democrats — The Washington Posts Thomas Edsall reports on the potential political benefits of the Bush... Orrin Judd: ONLY TOOK THEM 5 YEARS TO FIGURE HIM OUT: Bush Aims To Forge A GOP Legacy: Second-Term Plans Look to Undercut Democratic... |
Who's Dying in Our War? By / LAT — Permalink CAMP ANACONDA — Some months after the Americans took over the sprawling Balad Air Base, about 50 miles north of Baghdad, someone posted an enigmatic sign on the main gate asking: "Is Today the Day?" | |
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Hugh Hewitt: So I unwrapped the Sunday Los Angeles Times. The cover story on the magazine? "Who's Dying in Our War." Cookie Jill: who is dying in our war? so asketh the los angeles times magazine. |
Roger L. Simon: Via Hugh Hewitt, the headline of my hometown LAT this morning is "Who's Dying in our War?" [The MSM-ed. K. J. Lopez: "TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THEIR PATRIOTISM AND SERVICE" — Californians were greeted this morning with a LATimes Mag story titled "Who's Dying in Our War?" |
10-year-old supports vote of Iraqi people By / Billings Gazette — Permalink If Shelby Dangerfield were an adult in Iraq today, she would risk her life for the chance to vote. Because she is a 10-year-old Billings girl, Shelby won't be going to the polls. But she will be will be showing her support by wearing ink on her finger - just like those Iraqis who have voted. | |
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Ace: Expressing Solidarity With the Iraqis — Hat Tip: The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler, via GOP Bloggers.org In response to... Michelle Malkin: BLUE INK SOLIDARITY shelby.gif Ten-year-old Shelby Dangerfield of Billings, Montana, has launched a campaign to show... |
Scott Sala: Original story from the great Red State of Montana, as blogcast by Michelle Malkin. UPDATE: someone has the domain giveterrorthefinger.com already. |
Fanfare and fear mark Iraq elections Reuters — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq - Some came on crutches, others walked for miles then struggled to read the ballot, but across most of Iraq millions turned out to vote on Sunday, defying insurgent threats of a bloodbath. | |
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Steve Soto: Iraqi Vote Goes Well, And What It May Mean — Polls have closed in Iraq this Sunday, and although it will be awhile... |
Norm Geras: Look — I don't do photos here. But just look. And look. Look. Look. Look. Look. Look. Look. Look. Look. |