Archive » 2004 » December

There are conflicting reports worldwide, but it seems Abu Sayyaf leader Khaddafy Janjalani may be dead. Here’s the Manila Bulletin’s take: Sketchy reports reaching the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) General Headquarters in Quezon City said that Janjalani, who carried a US$5 million reward from the United States government and another R5 million from [...]

From Ana Marie Cox’s interview with Newsweek’s Richard Wolffe: What did you think of the bloggers’ role in the Dan Rather affair? Answer: I think they did a disservice to the debate because they made the debate about the documents and not about the president of the United States. There was another half to that [...]

After the White House news conference this morning, Bill Kristol on Fox News praised President Bush’s remarks about “immigration reform” as “eloquent.” Beg to differ. The president’s open-borders statements were empty, garish platitudes strung together sloppily like cheap Christmas lights: Illegal aliens “do the job Americans won’t do.” President Bush used that dog-tired phrase about [...]

A San Francisco Chronicle editorial writer reports on how Berkeley residents have had enough of tax-hiking ballot measures. Mirabile dictu! What’s next? A Reagan memorial at the People’s Park?

The MSM’s favorite political “rock star,” Barack Obama, graces the cover of the latest Newsweek, the Chicago Sun Times reports. You can’t read a profile or watch a TV interview of Obama without a reference to him as a “rock star.” (Obama-rama flashback here.) Question: Is there a Republican out there whom the media would [...]

Move America Forward notes that a nasty cold front is expected in Afghanistan in a few days: According to weather forecasts by The Weather Channel and Weather Underground, a front will bring cold air, high winds and significant snows to many areas in Afghanistan this week. The worst of the weather is expected to impact [...]

Coming up at 10:30am. Lots to discuss: The Rumsfeld question Iraq elections The Kerik mess Social Security reform No slowdown for the holidays here…

When last we visited the gubernatorial goings-on in Washington state, “do-over” was the word. Over the weekend, the big news was a “smoking gun” report from Seattle-area election officials regarding uncounted, unsigned ballots. Republican party chair Chris Vance said “the report shows that election managers were working on the signature problem months ago, that the [...]

The bitter, twisted, unfunny skit on Saturday Night Live that’s mentioned on the Drudge Report this morning can be viewed here. In addition to cruelly mocking Rush Limbaugh, the cartoon (titled “Blue Christmas”) shows Santa and Rudolph skipping over the Red States (referred to on a map as Dumbf*ckistan), commiserating at a Chinese restaurant with [...]

Seattle Times sportswriter Steve Kelley’s long profile of former Mariners pitcher Brian Holman and his family is a beautiful tribute to faith, family, and perseverance. Read it here and bring some Kleenex.

I came across this new photo of Michael Jackson (be careful, it’s scary), who hosted three busloads of kids on his ranch this weekend as he awaits trial on child molestation charges. The article noted that “It was unclear where the children had come from.” What the %^&#@@!? Reading the story and seeing the photo [...]

Funny, but not so funny, Steve Breen cartoon here. (Thanks to reader Judy Breck for sending.)

If you live in or near Bogota, N.J., or feel like driving there to play a small part in the War to Save Christmas, check this out: Bogota Mayor and Republican Gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan told Essex County Republicans last night that he is organizing an “illegal” night of Christmas Carols, Hanukah songs and other [...]

You’ve got to hand it to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. They are unrepentant, unabashed, and undeterred gun grabbers–and there ain’t nuthin’ that’s gonna stop ‘em from trampling all over the Second Amendment. Here‘s the AP/SFgate.com story outlining the board’s sweeping gun ban proposal. Volokh notes it would ban the possession of handguns as [...]

What a mess. Update: Emcee has posted the Washington GOP’s lawsuit documents here. Update II: It’s getting crazier. AP reports… With Washington state in the middle of a recount of its amazingly close governor’s race, election officials in Seattle’s King County entered a warehouse Friday and found a plastic tray containing 150 misplaced ballots. The [...]

Scott Peterson’s ex-mistress has a book deal…with Regan Books.

Secularists in Vermont have demanded that a state-run veteran’s home take down a cross decorated with red, white, and blue lights. Employees at the Vermont Veteran’s Home had put the large cross atop a gazebo to honor local Vermont Guard troops who left last month for a tour of duty in the Middle East. After [...]

Liveblogging the Bush ceremony… He thanks Sens. Collins and Lieberman, the 9/11 Commission, the 9/11 families, Condi Rice, etc. etc. No mention, of course, of the House Republicans who rescued this bill from being a total farce. “America’s enemies need to be only right once.” The key lesson of Sept. 11, 2001 is that America’s [...]

Just when you thought you had heard the last of Jessica Cutler (a.k.a Washingtonienne a.k.a. Wonkette’s bosom buddy), check out the e-mail I received this evening from a Time magazine photo editor: From: xxx_xxxxxx@timemagazine.com To: malkin@comcast.net Cc: xxxxx_xxxxxxxxx@timemagazine.com Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 6:21 PM Subject: photo of jessica cutler Dear Michele (sic) can you [...]

He’s the 21-year-old suspect reportedly now in custody for the Maryland arson fires. Speed was a security guard who worked at the targeted subdivision. So, what is ecoterrorism, racism, or something else? Looks like we’ll know tomorrow. Update: News reports suggest Speed was motivated by grief and anger over the death of his infant son. [...]

Annan Pledges to Aid in Oil-For-Food Probe

The Securities & Exchange Commission is finally cracking down on the behemoth government boondoggle known as Fannie Mae. (Previous Fannie coverage here and here.) From the Washington Post: The Securities and Exchange Commission’s top accountant last night told mortgage funding giant Fannie Mae that it should correct its past accounting, a directive that could erase [...]

As I mentioned earlier this week, my top choice for DHS chief is veteran border enforcement official/former U.S. attorney Peter Nunez. Now comes word that Frances Fragos Townsend “appears” to be at the top of the shortlist. Forget Townsend. My second dream pick would be the relentless and inimitable Heather Mac Donald. Here’s her latest [...]

You’ve read the Washington Post’s report by Richard Lieby on “actor”/”comedian” “Chevy” Chase’s left-wing, Bush-bashing meltdown at a People for the American Way gala in the Beltway. But the real joke was PFAW’s ceremony itself, dubbed the “Spirit of Liberty Awards,” which honored Hollyweird blowhards Alec Baldwin and Susan Sarandon as “Defenders of Democracy.” For [...]

Didja see this? From Onalaska, Tx.: The lyrics of a satirical Christmas song are brewing controversy at a local school. One parent says the words are racist. School officials in the town of Onalaska say it’s just a big misunderstanding. The song is called “Leroy, the Redneck Reindeer.” There are no direct references to racism [...]

The Washington Times‘s Ralph Hallow covers the Washington state election debacle (more here): Republicans in Washington state suspect Democrats, with 500 patronage jobs at risk, are cheating in what is now the unprecedented third counting of the 2,883,341 ballots cast in the Nov. 2 election for governor. In the current hand recount, Democrats keep discovering [...]

Major League Baseball is in a big snit over the Washington, D.C., city council’s decision to stand up for itself (and taxpayers) over the cost of a new sports stadium. MLB wanted D.C. to cough up some $580 million for the deal. Council chair Linda Cropp demanded an amendment that would require $140 million – [...]

Like an increasing number of gift-givers, we’ve been doing most of our Christmas shopping on Amazon.com. As in past years, there’s an option before you place your order to purchase gift-wrapping for $4.99. Today, this gift for my daughter arrived in its “gift wrap”–a blue burlap sack with a cheap, day-glo green, wrinkled ribbon. Uh-uh-uh-gly! [...]

FYI, am scheduled to appear on FOX News tonight at around 5:50 pm EST on The Big Story.

Spc. David Mahlenbrock is being laid to rest today at Arlington National Cemetary. In honor of his final request, here are the lyrics to his favorite song. God bless him and his family. Toby Keith – American Soldier I’m just trying to be a father, Raise a daughter and a son, Be a lover to [...]