Fine? Why Fine?

Beautiful

(Via LGF.) "Red State" kids vs. CodePink. (2nd Video here.)

7/4/06

Celebrate.

The Declaration of Independence was largely the work of Virginian Thomas Jefferson. In justifying American independence, Jefferson drew generously from the political philosophy of John Locke, an advocate of natural rights, and from the work of other English theorists. The first section features the famous lines, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The second part presents a long list of grievances that provided the rationale for rebellion.

How About We Call It a Push?

Ex-CIA Larry Johnson on Karl Rove:

Small wonder his mother killed herself.  Once she discovered what a despicable soul she had spawned she apparently saw no other way out.

Ann Coulter on Rep. John Murtha:

The reason soldiers invented "fragging."

These people have clearly lost their minds.

That Was Fun

The blogosphere is full of smackdowns of anti-American idiots and while they don't necessarily generate the buzz they did a couple of years ago, Shannon Love delivers a whomp on a commenter that's quite satisfying.

Webb

I don't really know anything about Virginia politics but George Allen may have a fight on his hands from James Webb.

My friend Jim Webb announced last week that he will seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate from Virginia. If he wins the Democratic primary, he will challenge the incumbent, Republican George Allen.

Republicans should worry. Webb is an impressive man. He is a 1968 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. As a Marine officer in Vietnam, he led an infantry platoon and company, was wounded twice, and was awarded the Navy Cross (second only to the Medal of Honor as a recognition of valor) and the Silver Star. After he was medically retired from the Marine Corps, he attended Georgetown Law School and later served as counsel to the House Veterans Committee. He is the author of six novels, including Fields of Fire, the best novel there is about Vietnam. During the Reagan administration, he served as an assistant secretary of Defense and secretary of the Navy. Combine his virtues with the fact that Virginia is one of the few states where a conservative Democrat might win, and, if Webb prevails in the Democratic primary, Senator Allen is likely to be in for the fight of his life.

Mac Owens the author of the article notes that Webb feels we're shortsighted in committing so much of our force to Iraq with China looming. He's also pissed at what he percieves as the Republican smearing of Rep. Murtha and other veterans who aren't in favor of the war, as Owens states:

The political tactic of playing up the soldiers on the battlefield while tearing down the reputations of veterans who oppose them could eventually cost the Republicans dearly. It may be one reason that a preponderance of the Iraq war veterans who have thus far decided to run for office are doing so as Democrats.

I just finished reading Webb's most recent book, Born Fighting, (see Sidebar) this weekend and as a candidate he'd be way to the right of most Democratic senators (save Joe from Connecticut). It would be interesting if Webb gets the nomination and I'd guess that Allen would really have to do more than he'd like to reassure his re-election. Though there appear to be signs that Webb's reconsidered and may not run after all--but would his friend write a piece in NRO if this was the case?

If Webb's still in in November this will be a race to watch.

UPDATE 2/16/06

Actually, that last link about Webb not running in from 1/31/06, so I'd say he's definitely in. Here's his site.

X

The picture of Dave Justice and Halle Berry in this series (Photo #15 of 19) taken back when they were a couple struck a nostalgic pang in me when I saw it. Their clothes are so damn 1992ish that I felt like I was in college again.

Tailor Made Comedy

Could there be any better fodder for Ace and his commenters than Cheney shooting a man?

I bet Cheney's bird dogs nearly killed themselves bringing that guy to him. I hear that the dog who gets the game back to him first gets a piece of the tender heart meat that Cheney eats raw from every kill.

Not for the power, mind you. Just because he likes the taste.

UPDATE 2/14/06

Obviously, no longer that funny.

When There's No One Around

I know it's redundant for me to link to the WaPo's profile of The Great Zucchini but when Lileks calls a piece of writing "Pulitzerian" it's worth a look. It's a very long piece but it is deserving of all the raves the blogosphere is heaping on it.

I won't ruin it for those who haven't read it yet, but who's going to play The Great Zucchini when they make his story into a movie? Jim Carrey is probably too old at this point. I bet Jimmy Fallon is doing everything he can to make sure he gets the role. It could be a career maker. Stiller too, though I think I'd like to see Luke Wilson get it.

Well, Well, Well

This ought to make you feel old.

...Potential wedding song?

Memo

Love the Bull Moose on Kerry & Kennedy.

Of course, the crowning grace was to launch a filibuster on the slopes of Davos. And the one time nominee of the once proud Democratic Party goes blogging on a left wing site that his campaign once rejected as being outside the mainstream for repulsive remarks about Americans murdered by terrorists in Iraq.

Then, the Democratic leader followed the former nominee's lead as did aspiring future nominees. No doubt their Democratic colleagues in such states as North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska are grateful for the assist. It's as if these filibustering salons live on another planet in a distant galaxy inhabited entirely by left wing high dollar donors, bloggers and lobbyists from People for the American Way.