Or just soft-core?

Pop Tarts: Jessica SimpsonÂ’s Breasts ArenÂ’t Bogus

She may not be a natural-born blonde, but “Blonde Ambition” babe Jessica Simpson swears her bountiful bust isn't bogus.

"Maybe after having kids, if my boobs dropped down to my bellybutton, I would get them lifted," Simpson told her fashion designer friend Michael Kors for the August edition of HarperÂ’s Bazaar. "But you know, my boobs are real."

Don't you feel better knowing that they are real? I thought you would.

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No doubt we will hear screechings from liberal theologians, but this document issued by the Vatican does nothing more than restate what came out of the Second Vatican Council four decades ago.

Pope Benedict XVI has reasserted the universal primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday that says Orthodox churches were defective and that other Christian denominations were not true churches.

Benedict approved a document from his old offices at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that restates church teaching on relations with other Christians. It was the second time in a week the pope has corrected what he says are erroneous interpretations of the Second Vatican Council, the 1962-65 meetings that modernized the church.

* * *

It restates key sections of a 2000 document the pope wrote when he was prefect of the congregation, "Dominus Iesus," which set off a firestorm of criticism among Protestant and other Christian denominations because it said they were not true churches but merely ecclesial communities and therefore did not have the "means of salvation."

In the new document and an accompanying commentary, which were released as the pope vacations here in Italy's Dolomite mountains, the Vatican repeated that position.

"Christ 'established here on earth' only one church," the document said. The other communities "cannot be called 'churches' in the proper sense" because they do not have apostolic succession _ the ability to trace their bishops back to Christ's original apostles.

Now speaking as an ex-Catholic with four years of seminary training, I can tell you that there is nothing new or shocking here. And while you will have liberal Catholics rant about a betrayal of "the spirit of Vatican II", let me assure you that they are wrong. Indeed, my experience was that most folks who make that argument have never actually read the documents of Vatican II to see what they actually say.

In this case, the document does little more than restate what was written in 1964 in Unitatis Redintigratio -- and indeed also hearkens back to Lumen Gentium, which makes the following point.

This is the one Church of Christ which in the Creed is professed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic, which our Saviour, after His Resurrection, commissioned Peter to shepherd, and him and the other apostles to extend and direct with authority, which He erected for all ages as "the pillar and mainstay of the truth". This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him, although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its visible structure. These elements, as gifts belonging to the Church of Christ, are forces impelling toward catholic unity.

In noting that groups not in union with Rome are somehow defective and/or not fully churches but are still part of the Body of Christ we have something that is hardly a novel development in the post-Vatican II era. Indeed, were it not for the theological ignorance of many in the journalistic world, I'd be surprised that this new document even merits a mention by the press. What's more, I don't see anything that merits the statement found in the article that the document has a "harsh tone".

And interestingly enough, it would appear that the Protestant spokespeople cited by Reuters to comment don't particularly know anything about the last four decades of Catholic teaching on ecclesiology or ecumenism.

But Bishop Wolfgang Huber, head of the Protestant umbrella group Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), said the new Vatican document effectively downgraded Protestant churches and would make ecumenical relations more difficult.

Huber said the new pronouncement repeated the "offensive statements" of the 2000 document and was a "missed opportunity" to patch up relations with Protestants.

"The hope for a change in the ecumenical situation has been pushed further away by the document published today," he said.

A statement from The French Protestant Federation said that while the document was an internal pronouncement of the Catholic Church, it would have "external repercussions."

But given the reality that absolutely nothing has changed in the position of the Catholic Church on the issue of ecumenism and the nature of the Church, I don't see where anything substantive has changed. What we have instead is simply alarmism.

Now let me expand upon that a little bit more. The Catholic Church has a body, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, that is charged with pronouncing upon Church doctrine, as you noted. They tend to do so as questions are raised and brought before it, based upon the writings of various theologians. What seems to have happened here is that particular writers have begun to call into question the meaning of certain Vatican II pronouncements I have mentioned above. As a result, Cardinal Levada and his staff prepared a document that does no more than go back to the earlier documents and restates them in much the same language as originally used 43 years ago. Unfortunately, the fifth question (as did the fourth) goes back to a technical definition of terms as used in Catholic theology that engenders a certain amount of confusion. Indeed, it would have been helpful for the document to more fully cite Communionis Notio, which includes the following passage:

17. "The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honoured by the name of Christian, but who do not however profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter". Among the non-Catholic Churches and Christian communities, there are indeed to be found many elements of the Church of Christ, which allow us, amid joy and hope, to acknowledge the existence of a certain communion, albeit imperfect.

This communion exists especially with the Eastern orthodox Churches, which, though separated from the See of Peter, remain united to the Catholic Church by means of very close bonds, such as the apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, and therefore merit the title of particular Churches. Indeed, "through the celebration of the Eucharist of the Lord in each of these Churches, the Church of God is built up and grows in stature", for in every valid celebration of the Eucharist the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church becomes truly present.

Since, however, communion with the universal Church, represented by Peter's Successor, is not an external complement to the particular Church, but one of its internal constituents, the situation of those venerable Christian communities also means that their existence as particular Churches is wounded. The wound is even deeper in those ecclesial communities which have not retained the apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist. This in turn also injures the Catholic Church, called by the Lord to become for all "one flock" with "one shepherd", in that it hinders the complete fulfillment of its universality in history.

Unfortunately, the fifth question was framed as asking why the term "ecclesial community" is used rather than "Church" when dealing with the various post-Reformation expressions of Christian community. It sticks strictly to a restatement of the definition, without delving deeper discussion of how those communities are viewed by the Catholic Church. Indeed, it appears presumed that those reading this new document (technically entitled Responsa Ad Qaestiones or Response To Some Questions -- doesn't the Latin have a classier ring to it?)

Now interestingly enough, there is an additional commentary released by the CDF to explain Responsa Ad Qaestiones more fully. Here's what it says about that fifth question:

The fifth question asks why the ecclesial Communities originating from the Reformation are not recognised as ‘Churches’.

In response to this question the document recognises that “the wound is still more profound in those ecclesial communities which have not preserved the apostolic succession or the valid celebration of the eucharist”. For this reason they are “not Churches in the proper sense of the word” but rather, as is attested in conciliar and postconciliar teaching, they are “ecclesial Communities”.

Despite the fact that this teaching has created no little distress in the communities concerned and even amongst some Catholics, it is nevertheless difficult to see how the title of “Church” could possibly be attributed to them, given that they do not accept the theological notion of the Church in the Catholic sense and that they lack elements considered essential to the Catholic Church.

In saying this, however, it must be remembered that these said ecclesial Communities, by virtue of the diverse elements of sanctification and truth really present in them, undoubtedly possess as such an ecclesial character and consequently a salvific significance.

This new document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which essentially summarises the teaching of the Council and the post-conciliar magisterium, constitutes a clear reaffirmation of Catholic doctrine on the Church. Apart from dealing with certain unacceptable ideas which have unfortunately spread around the Catholic world, it offers valuable indications for the future of ecumenical dialogue. This dialogue remains one of the priorities of the Catholic Church, as Benedict XVI confirmed in his first message to the Church on April 20, 2005 and on many other occasions, especially during his apostolic visit to Turkey (28.11.06-1.12.06). However, if such dialogue is to be truly constructive it must involve not just the mutual openness of the participants but also fidelity to the identity of the Catholic faith. Only in this way will it be able to lead towards the unity of all Christians in “one flock with one shepherd” (Jn 10, 16) and thus heal that wound which prevents the Catholic Church from fully realising her universality within history.

Catholic ecumenism might seem, at first sight, somewhat paradoxical. The Second Vatican Council used the phrase “subsistit in” in order to try to harmonise two doctrinal affirmations: on the one hand, that despite all the divisions between Christians the Church of Christ continues to exist fully only in the Catholic Church, and on the other hand that numerous elements of sanctification and truth do exist outwith the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church whether in the particular Churches or in the ecclesial Communities that are not fully in communion with the Catholic Church. For this reason, the same Decree of Vatican II on ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio introduced the term fullness (unitatis/catholicitatis) specifically to help better understand this somewhat paradoxical situation. Although the Catholic Church has the fullness of the means of salvation, “nevertheless, the divisions among Christians prevent the Church from effecting the fullness of catholicity proper to her in those of her children who, though joined to her by baptism, are yet separated from full communion with her.” The fullness of the Catholic Church, therefore, already exists, but still has to grow in the brethren who are not yet in full communion with it and also in its own members who are sinners “until it happily arrives at the fullness of eternal glory in the heavenly Jerusalem.” This progress in fullness is rooted in the ongoing process of dynamic union with Christ: “Union with Christ is also union with all those to whom he gives himself. I cannot possess Christ just for myself; I can belong to him only in union with all those who have become, or will become, his own. Communion draws me out of myself towards him, and thus also towards unity with all Christians.”

Viewed in this light, there is not any trivialization of the post-Reformation expressions of Christianity or the action of God working though them for the sanctification of believers. Indeed, it is clear that there is a forward look towards a fuller unity/communion between all Christians -- but seeks to avoid minimizing the greater differences that exist between Catholicism and Protestantism than exist between Catholicism and Orthodoxy. After all, the differences between the Eastern and Western Churches are for the most part rooted in issues of primacy and governance, while the divisions that grew out of the Reformation have much deeper doctrinal issues at play.

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If the situation in Virginia is any sign, it is likely that GOP success will continue in many states -- and this might bode well for the party nationally as well.

Virginia residents' negative feelings toward the Bush administration and the national Republican Party have not tarnished state Republicans or broadly diminished their chances to keep control of the General Assembly after the Nov. 6 election.

Although Virginia residents say they strongly disapprove of the war in Iraq, more than half of the state's voters approve of the state Republican Party, and a sizable majority has confidence in the state government to make the right decisions for the future.

If such a trend does exist, we are likely to see a continued GOP domination in many states -- and the rise of a new generation of national GOP leaders whose success at the state level will cause the people of their states to send them to Washington. So rather than a party realignment, might we instead be seeing a changing of the guard?

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It was a dark time for Great Britain, as the seemingly overwhelming task of defending itself from Germany alone stood before England. And yet Winston Churchill declared that the English would bear any burden to prevail. And prevail they did.

Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki faces a similar daunting task as some political leaders in America talk of abandoning the fight against terrorism in Iraq. He has declared that his nation will succeed, even if it means doing so alone.

“We say with confidence that we are capable, God willing, of taking full responsibility for the security file if the international forces withdraw in any time they wish,” Mr. Maliki said.

Just as Churchill's Britain was abandoned by an ally that found surrender preferable to continued resistance to the seemingly unstoppable force of evil that opposed them, so, too do many American politicians lack the will to continue a fight that many of them had no stomach for in the first place. And so Maliki, calling for the help of God, is seeking to rally his people for the same sort of fight against overwhelming odds that will exist if the political class in America succeed in forcing a withdrawal or disengagement upon President Bush. May he be right, and may the Iraqi people rise to the challenge they will face if America abandons an embattled ally for the second time in my lifetime.

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When you cannot even raise half-a-million dollars in six months, you simply need to get out of the race. What may sound harsh, but dollars are a practical measure of the breadth and depth of support for a candidate. As a result, Jim Gilmore has realized that he needs to be out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination.

Former Virginia governor James S. Gilmore III ended his long-shot Republican presidential campaign yesterday, saying he was unable to raise enough money to communicate his conservative vision to Americans. He held out the possibility, however, that he might soon run for public office again in Virginia.

Gilmore, the son of a butcher who had improbably risen to become a local prosecutor, a state attorney general and a governor of Virginia, dropped out of the crowded GOP primary field a day before reporting that he had raised $211,000 between April and June.

Since January, he has raised $381,000, while his rivals have collected tens of millions of dollars.

"You have to build a large organization of people who will raise money for you. That takes years to develop," Gilmore said yesterday. "While the other candidates are raising tens of millions, we were raising hundreds of thousands. We would have to change that paradigm to stay in this race."

My only question is why Gilmore thought he had a chance of getting the nomination in the first place.

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Most folks think of metal pegboard as an item for the garage, but I don't think I agree. I can imagine any number of household uses, including for storage in a kid's room or to hang pots, pans, and utensils in the kitchen. Heck, I'd love to get some of the powder coated metal pegboard for my classroom, where I could really use a place to hang certain items that I need out of the way but readily at hand.

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A little example of Leftist moral equivalence.

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I'm waiting for all the liberals who allegedly support our American troops to speak out and denounce Ted Rall over this one.

Unless, of course, they agree with Rall's depiction of the American fighting man.

Somehow, I expect that we will be getting a deafening silence from the cut-and-run crowd -- who, like Rall, are much more supportive of this.

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Rep. Keith Ellison has certainly crossed a line with this one.

America's first Muslim congressman has provoked outrage by apparently comparing President George W Bush to Adolf Hitler and hinting that he might have been responsible for the September 11 attacks.

Addressing a gathering of atheists in his home state of Minnesota, Keith Ellison, a Democrat, compared the 9/11 atrocities to the destruction of the Reichstag, the German parliament, in 1933. This was probably burned down by the Nazis in order to justify Hitler's later seizure of emergency powers.

"It's almost like the Reichstag fire, kind of reminds me of that," Mr Ellison said. "After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the Communists for it, and it put the leader [Hitler] of that country in a position where he could basically have authority to do whatever he wanted."

To applause from his audience of 300 members of Atheists for Human Rights, Mr Ellison said he would not accuse the Bush administration of planning 9/11 because "you know, that's how they put you in the nut-ball box - dismiss you".

Excuse me, Keith, but your fellow Muslim, Osama bin Laden, admits that he and his people were behind 9/11. That means that, in fact, MUSLIMS WERE TO BLAME FOR 9/11.

And since you want to make comparisons to Hitler, I'd like to note that this Administration has made extreme efforts to be conciliatory towards Muslims, and to discourage anti-Muslim bias.

On the other hand, Much of the Islamic world revels in anti-Semitism, and rhetoric about killing Jews is considered mainstream. That sounds a whole lot more like Hitler than anything coming from the bush Administration. But then again, given the Muslim support for Hitler that was seen during WWII, we shouldn't be surprised that the Muslim world still echoes with that same foul ideology today. For that matter, given Ellison's history of associating with anti-Semitic organizations, I think that his comparing anyone to Hitler is more a case of projection than anything else.

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Democrats really don't want little things like the facts to get in the way of the clear conclusion that Valerie Plame Wilson is a liar.

Rep. Tom Davis, ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is puzzled by the House Intelligence Committee's claim that Valerie Plame Wilson has been consistent in her sworn testimony. He is asking the Intelligence Committee for documents to back up their contention.

Davis last month noted that Mrs. Wilson had testified to his committee that she, as a CIA employee, had not suggested the fact-finding mission to Niger by her husband, former Amb. Joseph Wilson. She earlier had told the Senate Intelligence Committee staff that she did not recall whether she made such a proposal. Davis also cited an internal CIA e-mail by her saying Wilson "may be in a position to assist."

Davis asked that Mrs. Wilson be recalled for testimony by his committee. Democratic Chairman Henry Waxman bucked the issue over to the House Intelligence Committee. When it responded she had been consistent in denying that she suggested her husband's mission, Davis was baffled in view of contradictory evidence.

Let's see -- "I don't recall", "No", and "Maybe my hubby could help" doesn't seem all that consistent to me. Indeed, it reeks of perjury. And we all know how the Democrats are against perjury in this case, right?

Kudos to Rep. Davis for pursuing this matter.

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Prosecutor Ronnie Earle complains that the decision to dismiss a charge against Tom Delay because it did not exist in Texas law at the time the alleged offense was committed somehow "skews" justice.

A Texas prosecutor said in court filings Friday that the state's highest criminal appeals court created a "separate — but not necessarily equal — system of justice" by refusing to reinstate a conspiracy charge against former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle wants the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to reconsider its decision.

Last month, the court refused to reinstate charges against DeLay and two former aides of conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws.

A state district judge threw out that charge after defense lawyers argued that the law DeLay is accused of violating in 2002 wasn't written until 2003.

A regional appeals court upheld the judge's decision. Prosecutors appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Republican-controlled panel ruled 5-4 in favor of DeLay and his co-defendants, John Colyandro and Jim Ellis.

Apparently Earle thinks that enforcing the constitutional prohibition on ex post facto laws somehow creates a two-tiered justice system. I suppose it does, in a sense -- one that allows prosecution for offenses that the accused could have known were illegal, and another that forbids the prosecution of offenses that would have required the defendant to have precognitive abilities to know that they were breaking a law not yet written.

But then again, justice has been skewed in a two-tiered fashion during the entire process.

What other person would Earle or any other prosecutor have invented an entirely new charge to indict him for -- one that did not exist at the time of the alleged offense?

What other individual would have been the subject of presentations of the same evidence to multiple (I believe it was six) grand juries before an indictment could be obtained -- including at least three in one weekend?

For what other individual would a prosecutor break grand jury confidentiality laws over so that he could massage his presentation to a future grand jury?

Yes, justice is skewed in this case -- against Tom DeLay by a rogue, partisan prosecutorial hack whose words and actions have betrayed a partisan animus in his use of the the powers of his office to undermine the justice and overturn the results of valid elections?

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One could, however, ask why this is the case.

Analysts and intelligence experts say the speed and frequency with which Ayman al-Zawahri has been issuing statements recently does not reflect the actions of a man cowering in a remote cave, cut off from the outside world and unable to direct terror operations.

If anything, the video and audio tapes offer chilling evidence that al-Qaida's leaders are in greater command than previously feared.

"The notion of them hiding in a deep, dark primitive cave isolated from electricity and all communication with the outside is strongly misguided," said Ben Venzke of the IntelCenter, a U.S.-based intelligence group that monitors terrorism messages. "The speed which they have demonstrated (getting messages out) shows that they are far from cut off."

Personally, I'd argue that the reason that al-Qaeda leaders are more confident is the rise of world and national leaders less interested in fighting terrorism than in engaging with terrorists. After all, given the departure of tony Blair from Downing Street and the rise of the cut-and-run Democrats, prospects of an eventual al-Qaeda victory are looking brighter. Why not go on the offensive, in the hopes of forcing a US and British surrender much more quickly?

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This is clearly political payback by the Massachusetts Senator, not a principled stand.

Former Wisconsin congressman Mark Green's nomination to become the ambassador of Tanzania hit a snag today because of Democratic opposition.

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts placed a hold on the nomination.

A Kerry aide says the reason is Green is a political appointee and not a career foreign service officer.

Green -- a Green Bay Republican -- was nominated for the post in Africa last month by President Bush.

Excuse me, but that really is not a legitimate basis for opposing the nomination of an ambassador. Political supporters, including many with no diplomatic experience, have often been appointed as ambassador -- indeed, the percentage of such political appointees has generally hovered around 35%. And I don't recall any John Kerry objections to such practices in the past,m such as the appointment of former Vice President Walter Mondale as Ambassador to Japan, or the appointment of gay rights activist James C. Hormel as Ambassador to Belgium. neither of those individuals was a career foreign service officer -- and both were clearly political appointees.

I think that perhaps Kerry is simply seeking revenge for Green's efforts against Kerry during the 2004 presidential campaign.

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When the Supreme Court issued its ruling on wage discrimination suits, the justices noted that their ruling was based upon the language of the statute, which constrained them to rule as they did. They also invited Congress to fix the statute in question in order to achieve what everyone views as a more just solution to the problem of wage discrimination.

Well, Congress has finally gotten its butt in gear and begun to consider legislation to solve the problem.

A Supreme Court decision restricting workersÂ’ ability to sue for wage discrimination has prompted Democrats to introduce legislation to counteract the ruling.

In May, the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 against a supervisor at a Goodyear tire plant in Alabama who discovered, after working there for nearly 20 years, that her male colleagues, including those with less experience, had been receiving higher salaries. Most courts had ruled that each unfair paycheck was a new act of discrimination, effectively a new opportunity for an employee to sue. But the justices said that the clock started running out the first time a worker was paid unfairly and that therefore, the plaintiff, Lilly M. Ledbetter, had waited too long to file suit.

The main federal antidiscrimination law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, says that employees must make their charge of employment discrimination within 180 days after the alleged unlawful practice occurred.

Now I'm shocked and appalled that anyone would question the need to do this, and heartily condemn the members of my party who appear opposed to solving the problem at hand. However, I'd like to urge the Congress to be sure that it does not completely remove the statute of limitations here, and that it does retain a limit on how far a suit can reach back, if only because the entire purpose of a statute of limitations is to allow a defendant to have the means to offer an effective defense against charges in a timely fashion.

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The winning entries in the Watcher's Council vote for this week are High Noonan by Big Lizards, and Interview With Todd Bensman by View From a Height.  here is where you can find the full results of the vote.

Here are the full tallies of all votes cast:

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I love my doctor. She treats me well, and is the only reason my darling wife is still with me. I cannot say enough good about her, and the care she provides for us.about her.

But I'll be honest -- I hate trying to get an appointment with her. My doctor has a growing practice that includes a fair percentage of Medicaid patients, not to mention her chronically ill and Medicare patients who need a little bit of extra attention. And given her office hours, it can be a hassle tying to get in to see her. I wish there was a way to get the quality of medical care my wife and I receive in a way that was less of a hassle.

That is where a service like MDVIP would come in very handy. MDVIP is more than a concierge medical care service -- it is a network of top physicians with intentionally small practices who are devoted to preventive health care and building strong relationships with their patients, whether they are seeking treatment for acute or chronic illnesses. That means that you, as a patient, get improved personalized health care due to the doctor's ability to focus on your overall health -- you are one of fewer than 600 patients that the doctor treats. Patients are also able to access their doctor much easier, with the ability to get in contact 24-hours a day in the event a medical need arises. In a very real sense, this hearkens back to the days of the family doctor who knew his patients intimately and was therefore better able to care for them.

And let’s be honest about it – this approach is effective. As one examines rates of hospitalization for comparable MDVIP patients vs. non-MDVIP patients, the differences are staggering. Patients with Medicare are hospitalized at a rate 65% lower with MDVIP – and those with private insurance see a difference of some 80%! You really can’t argue with numbers like that, can you? This approach to medicine clear does benefit patients.

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If Mike Nifong can be disbarred for his attempt to railroad the innocent for political purposes, shouldn't John Murtha at least be censured by his peers for doing the same?

The parents of a U.S. Marine accused of killing three Iraqis execution-style in Haditha in late 2005 said Thursday they would ask Congress to censure Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) for saying that the Marines "overreacted" during the incident and killed civilians "in cold blood."

"It's too late for an apology," Darryl Sharratt of Canonsburg, Pa., told Cybercast News Service after the hearing officer in the case, Lt. Col. Paul Ware, released an 18-page report recommending that all charges against Sharratt's son, Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, be dismissed because his actions "were in accord with the rules of engagement and use of force."

Sharratt said that he, his wife Theresa and other supporters of their 22-year-old son were planning to visit Martha's office, and "we're going to ask for more than an apology."

"We need this man censured by our Congress," he said, because "he denied my son -- and the other Marines involved -- their constitutional rights to a fair trial and a presumption of innocence."

"This is what we've been fighting for in Iraq," Sharratt added. "This is what we've been fighting for -- what soldiers and Marines have been dying for -- for the past 200 years."

Before he had even been briefed by military officials, Jon Murtha had acted as judge, jury, and would-be executioner in declaring these Marines guilty of cold-blooded murder -- because it fit with the narrative he was constructing to justify his lack of support for the troops in Iraq. He has refused to apologize, despite a flood of evidence that shows his words to have been objectively false and defamatory of these fighting men.

Doesn't simple justice require that the House of representatives go on the record as declaring Murtha to have been morally and ethically wrong in his words and actions?

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I'm always interested when liberals point to Europe as a model for the values and policies that we in the United States should follow. I'm curious -- would they be supportive of implementing this sort of policy in the United States, in place of the Patriot Act and other Bush Administration security initiatives?

Germany, fearful of being the next major target for Islamic terrorists, is edging away from its deep aversion to intrusive and harsh enforcement tactics, provoking a storm of protest from those who recall the official brutality of Nazism and Communism in decades past.

Sensing a growing threat, Germany’s top security official, Wolfgang Schäuble, is breaking down resistance within the government to surreptitious online searches of computers belonging to people they deem suspicious. He is pushing for a law to allow security forces to shoot down a plane commandeered by hijackers. And he said this week that Germany should consider detaining potential terrorists and approving the killing of terrorist leaders abroad.

Hey, liberals -- it is coming out of Europe, so it must be good. Right?

And you do support security in the face of the terrorist threat. Right?

Or do you really believe there is a terrorist threat at all?

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OK, you guys know I am a history geek, given that I teach the subject for a living. Even so, I don't claim to know everything, and am always learning something new. That is especially true about the Caribbean region, which is often overlooked by most folks in their study of history.

Now we all know that the Caribbean was an area in which much piracy took place, but did you know that it was also a vital naval front during both the American Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars (including , for we Americans, the War of 1812)? The British and the French fought any number of naval battles in the region, and many of the islands changed hands repeatedly.

This helps explain the varied culture of the region, with its Spanish, French, Dutch, and British influences combined with both native and African cultures as well. And while most of the people of the region are Christian, there is also an interesting mix of religions that includes not only Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism, but also various Afro-Caribbean Creolized religions, including Rastafarianism.

Yes, the Caribbean is a very interesting place to study -- and to travel.

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And so another educational opportunity goes down in flames in the name of political correctness.

Montgomery County educators are replacing a lesson that called for students to read about and discuss a racial epithet against African Americans as a precursor to reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" in ninth-grade English classes.

The lesson, called "Questionable Words," focused on two reading selections, an essay and a poem, each dealing with the epithet and how the author was hurt by its use. Curriculum officials reexamined the lesson after an African American student told the school board in the fall that the class had upset her.

"What we heard from enough community members and some teachers is that it's sensitive, it's emotionally charged," said Betsy Brown, curriculum director for Montgomery schools. "And if we have a lesson that could be misused and cause real hurt to a few or to a whole classroom of kids, then maybe we need to change it."

When I still taught English (I escaped the English Department six years ago), I taught just such a lesson that contextualized the use of the word in To Kill a Mockingbird. We discussed why the word was used, how it helped define the social structure of Macomb, and why the word and the issue of race were important in terms of when the book itself was written. I even intentionally scheduled my annual appraisal, by an African-American assistant principal, on the day I first taught the lesson, and was later told that she appreciated my sensitivity in handling the issue and my courage (as a first year teacher in the school) for asking to have her in my room that day. Not once did I ever have a student complain about it -- because they recognized that harper Lee was trying to make her characters talk the way that real people would have talked in such a situation, and that her goal was to paint the ugliness of racism.

Sadly, it looks like the children in this district are about to lose such a lesson -- one that seems vitally important as we have a national discussion about the propriety of ever using that word in art, literature, and daily conversation.

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One interesting field of blogging is that has emerged is the law-related blog (or blawgs, as they are often called). They deal with a variety of legal issues, from constitutional law to legal education to answers to legal frequently asked questions.

In the latter category is Criminal Attorneys in Los Angeles: Frequently Asked Questions - Law Blog operated by the lawyers at the firm of Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin. They take on common legal questions and offer general principles that the layman should follow when confronted with situations implicating criminal law. Among recent questions are the following:

Should I just go to court and plead guilty, with the help of the public defender, or just by representing myself?

If I am accused of stealing from the company I worked for, can I go to jail?

I have been falsely accused of a crime. Does that mean no charges will be filed, and I should speak to the police without an attorney? I have nothing to hide.

Can the police search you or your property without a search warrant? What happens if the search is illegal?

Needless to say, there is some good information available to the public at this site, and I'd encourage anyone interested in such legal issues to take a look. And if you need legal representation in Southern Califorina, the attorneys of Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin are former LA prosecutors with over 50 years of courtroom experience between them.

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Of course he admits this -- after all, we know the name of the leaker and it is "Richard Armitage".

President Bush on Thursday acknowledged publicly for the first time that someone in his administration likely leaked the name of a CIA operative, although he also said he hopes the controversy over his decision to spare prison for a former White House aide has "run its course."

"And now we're going to move on," Bush said in a White House news conference.

The president had initially said he would fire anyone in his administration found to have publicly disclosed the identity of Valerie Plame, the wife of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson and a CIA operative. Ten days ago, Bush commuted the 30-month sentence given to I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby by a federal judge in connection with the case.

Patrick Fitzgerald chose not to charge the leaker, who came forward before the special prosecutor was ever appointed. Fitzgerald decided instead to go after non-leakers as part of his out-of-control investigation of what he had determined was a non-crime within days of his appointment.

What we have here, then is not evidence of an intentional leak by the Bush Administration. Instead we have evidence of why there should not be special prosecutors in cases like this one.

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No other way to interpret today's vote by the House of Representatives to give a victory to the terrorists. We now know who this motley crew of traitors in Congress have meant when they said they support the troops -- the troops operating under the banner of al-Qaeda, not the Stars and Stripes.

Defying a White House veto threat, the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation to bring combat troops out of Iraq by April 1, 2008.

By a vote of 223-201, the Democratic-controlled House approved the legislation in the hope it will pressure the Senate to attach a similar mandatory troop withdrawal timetable to a military policy bill it is debating.

Passage of the House bill marked the third time this year it has voted for timetables to end the U.S. involvement in the war that is now in its fifth year. Two previous efforts either died in the Senate or were vetoed by President George W. Bush.

The measure that passed on Thursday would tell the Pentagon to begin withdrawing combat troops within four months and complete the redeployment by April 1.

Under the bill, an unspecified number of U.S. soldiers would stay in Iraq to train Iraqi soldiers, conduct counter-terrorism operations and protect U.S. diplomats.

And folks wonder why there were reports today about al-Qaeda gaining strength. Of course they are -- when one side has indicated its willingness to surrender, it is natural to for folks to flock to the banner of the likely victor. It is called the bandwagon effect -- and today a majority of the House of Representatives have decided to march along with Osama and the boys.

MORE AT Michelle Malkin, Captain's Quarters, The Hill Chronicles, Bill's Bites, Wake Up America, Webloggin, bRight & Early

OPEN TRACKBACKING AT Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson's Website, DeMediacratic Nation, Big Dog's Weblog, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, The Pet Haven, Conservative Cat, Conservative Thoughts, Allie Is Wired, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, CommonSenseAmerica, High Desert Wanderer, Right Voices, Gone Hollywood, The Yankee Sailor, and Public Eye, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

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I understand that the accused has a right to a fair trial -- but for a court to order that the terms "rape" and 'sexual assault" not be used during the course of a trial on sexual assault charges is beyond absurd -- it makes it absolutely impossible to discuss the events that led to the charges. And since the victim wouldn't consent to this travesty of justice, the judge has declared a mistrial in the case.

A Lancaster County district judge has declared a mistrial in a sex-assault case in which he had barred the words "rape" and "victim" among others, and both the defense and alleged victim are asking for a shot at a fair trial.

Judge Jeffre Cheuvront said publicity surrounding the rape case against Pamir Safi, 33, would have made it too difficult for jurors to render an impartial verdict.

The mistrial came a day after Cheuvront deemed that the alleged victim in the case would not have to sign his order barring witnesses from certain words. The judge had warned Tory Bowen, 24, at a hearing on Wednesday that he would have little patience if she used the forbidden language when testifying against Safi.

Among the words and phrases Cheuvront barred were: rape, victim, assailant and sex-assault kit.

I'm sorry, but banning such words and phrases would have made it utterly impossible to actually discuss the events in question and the evidence int he case. As it was, the judge had indicated he might jail the victim if she did not abide by his order -- but instead he decided to rape her (and Lady Justice) again by declaring a mistrial due to what he described as too much publicity and attempts to intimidate the court brought about by those who objected to the order -- including the victim, who refused to stay silent.

Even more despicable is the response of the defendant and his shyster, who had previously attempted to ban the Tory Bowen from testifying about the events that led to the charges in the first place.

"The problem this creates, of course, is the taxpayers of Lancaster County are going to carry the burden for this misconduct," said Safi's attorney, Clarence Mock. "All Mr. Safi wanted was an opportunity to have was a fair trial in front of an impartial jury, and due to the misconduct -- reprehensible conduct -- of the complaining witness and her supporters, he was deprived of that opportunity."

The reprehensible conduct of the complaining witness? What reprehensible conduct? Demanding to be able to actually say what happened to her on the night in question? Demanding the opportunity to be heard by a jury without these absurd censorship rules put in place by a judge who clearly seems more sympathetic to rapists than their victims?

I don't know about you, but it appears that Judge Jeffre Cheuvont needs to be removed from the bench in the most expeditious manner possible -- or at least reassigned to hearing nothing more serious than parking tickets.

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Coming in from Syria.

Underscoring the threat, police searching a truck that had entered from neighboring Syria found 200 suicide belts and packs of explosives, the Interior Ministry said.

It was unclear who was behind the shipment, but U.S. commanders say al Qaeda is increasingly utilizing suicide vests because many vulnerable targets such as outdoor markets have been walled off to stop suicide car bombs getting in.

This should be front page news, not buried in a story. Clearly, al-Qaeda is after the civilians because they can have no significant impact upon the troops.

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Not as much as one might want, but progress none the less.

The Bush administration will assert in the next few days that progress in carrying out the new American strategy in Iraq has been satisfactory on nearly half of the 18 benchmarks set by Congress, according to several administration officials.

But it will qualify some verdicts by saying that even when the political performance of the Iraqi government has been unsatisfactory, it is too early to make final judgments, the officials said.

The administrationÂ’s decision to qualify many of the political benchmarks will enable it to present a more optimistic assessment than if it had provided the pass-fail judgment sought by Congress when it approved funding for the war this spring.

The administration officials who provided details of the draft report to The New York Times, insisting on anonymity, did so partly to rebut claims by members of Congress in recent days that almost no progress had been made in Iraq since President Bush altered course by ordering the deployment of about 30,000 additional troops earlier this year.

One of the realities of war is that progress often comes in fits and starts. The fact that there has been this much progress is a positive thing, not the negative that some would prefer to spin it as. Some of the measures will require additional political progress within the Iraqi government, while other aspects will require continued use of military force. But regardless, this report puts teh lie to war opponents who claim there is no progress in Iraq -- and therefore seek retreat and surrender.

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I hope you never need a lawyer for any sort of criminal case. That means trouble, even if you are completely innocent of the offense with which you are charged. The US Constitution guarantees you the right to an attorney in such a situation, and you want to get the best one available when you exercise that right. And that is true of any sort of criminal case, including DUI cases.

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Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin -- when you need legal representation in Los Angeles.

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My first overtly political act came back when I was four or five years old. I wrote the President and First Lady asking them, as the son of an officer serving in Vietnam, to continue to support the work he was doing there.

Some weeks later, I got a letter back from the White House, from some aide whose name I don't recall, thanking me for writing. But then, several days later, I got a second letter -- this one signed by the First Lady (well, probably by an auto-pen -- but at that age you don't know such things). I was impressed, as a little boy would be, by the attention by one so important, and developed a fondness for that First Lady.

She died yesterday, some four decades later, at the age of 94. And I truly feel a loss.

Lady Bird Johnson, the former first lady who championed conservation and worked tenaciously for the political career of her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson, died Wednesday, a family spokeswoman said. She was 94.

Johnson, who suffered a stroke in 2002 that affected her ability to speak, returned home late last month after a week at Seton Medical Center, where she'd been admitted for a low-grade fever.

She died at her Austin home of natural causes and she was surrounded by family and friends, said spokeswoman Elizabeth Christian.

Even after the stroke, Johnson still managed to make occasional public appearances and get outdoors to enjoy her beloved wildflowers. But she was unable to speak more than a few short phrases, and more recently did not speak at all, Anne Wheeler, spokeswoman for the LBJ Library and Museum, said in 2006. She communicated her thoughts and needs by writing, Wheeler said.

For those who, like me, are in a position to honor Lady Bird Johnson by making the trip to Austin as she lies in repose, here is the schedule.

Friday, July 13

• Morning: Private family Eucharist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin. Invitation only.

• 1:15 p.m.: The public is invited to pay its final respects to Lady Bird Johnson as she lies in repose at the LBJ Library and Museum, 2313 Red River, Austin. Johnson will remain in repose throughout the night and visitation will end at 11 a.m. the following morning.

Saturday, July 14

• Private funeral: By invitation only at Riverbend Centre, Austin.

Sunday, July 15

• Ceremonial route: The public is invited to line the route of a ceremonial cortege that will pass through Austin and carry Johnson on to her burial place in Stonewall at the Johnson family cemetery. The public route will begin at the State Capitol at approximately 9 a.m. and will proceed south on Congress to Cesar Chavez. It will go right on Cesar Chavez and head west on the shores of Town Lake. It will turn and go west on 290 toward Johnson City, where it will ultimately motor through downtown Johnson City, past President Johnson's boyhood home and past the LBJ National Park Visitors Center. The public aspect of the cortege will end in Johnson City.

• Afternoon: Private family services at the graveside at the Johnson family cemetery in Stonewall. Invitation only.

May she rest in peace, and may her family and friends be comforted in this time of loss.

Posted by: Greg at 11:02 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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You know, San Antonio is simply my wife's favorite place to go here in Texas. Really, it is. My first year down here we went for a trip over there when I was sent to attend a professional conference, and she just sort of tagged along with me. We had a cool hotel, right on the RiverWalk, and could even see the Alamo from our window. Really, we found San Antonio to be a neat city to visit, and so have been back several times. And while the city is within driving distance for us, there are plenty of Cheap Airlines to get you there.

But if you are going to go to San Antonio, you need to be aware of some things about San Antonio Hotels. Where you stay is really dependent upon where you want to go. After all, if you want to spend your time on the RiverWalk, browsing the neat shops and visiting the Alamo, then you do need to be right downtown. On the other hand, if you are looking to visit SeaWorld or Six Flags, then you might want to locate yourself outside of the heart of the city, for reasons of traffic and time. And, of course, there are dozens of historic sites related to the missions and the Spanish heritage of the city that you might choose to visit as well. Frankly, San Antonio is a cool place to visit.

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What would have happened if the US didn't bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII?

here is a scenario written from the perspective of a world in which the atomic bombings didn't happen.

Computer modeling of alternate World War II scenarios, which began in the academic world, has begun to generate considerable controversy in popular opinion. In one much-discussed simulation, Harry S. Truman made the immense, irrevocable decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan. To the relief of a war-weary world, this hastened Japan's surrender. But relief swiftly gave way to doubt and fear -- doubt about whether the use of such weapons had been justified, and, when the U.S. nuclear monopoly ended, fear that America had created the instrument of her own eventual demise. The simulation, however, produced a surprising result: the grim warning of the destroyed cities, together with stockpiled nuclear weapons as a strategic deterrent, ensured that the leaders of a multi-polar nuclear world, in future international crises, never pushed brinksmanship across the final threshold. A sort of "cold war" ensued, but catastrophe was averted. Deterrence worked.

Readers are doubtless aware that this scenario is also the basis for a popular board game simulating the politics of an imaginary twentieth century. What actually happened, of course, bore no resemblance to a "cold war".

First you must remember that in 1945, the President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was gravely ill but did not die. At Yalta and Potsdam, FDR's condition left him no match for Stalin, and he continued to deteriorate. Vice President Truman was obliged to make some difficult decisions, but whether to use the atomic bomb was not one of them. The military did not inform Truman of the successful Trinity test, because the extent of FDRÂ’s infirmity was concealed by the PresidentÂ’s staff. By default, use of the bomb against Japan was never authorized.

More than 2.5 million American, Russian, and Japanese lives were lost in an invasion that many theoreticians now argue should never have happened. In the think-tank scenario, Operation Downfall (the plan for the invasion of Japan) is a minor footnote.

The divergence between history and the simulation widens. As we know, Japan was partitioned after the Allied victory. The Soviets demanded sovereignty over the Kurils, Sakhalin, and Hokkaido; the northern third of Honshu and an enclave in Tokyo comprised the Soviet Occupation Zone. The remainder of Japan was under U.S. occupation. Before FDRÂ’s death in late 1946, the ailing President bowed to the Russian and Chinese demand that Hirohito stand trial as a war criminal. When the Emperor was sentenced to hang, MacArthur refused to recognize the war crimes tribunalÂ’s authority. A newly-sworn President Truman relieved MacArthur of his duties.

There is a photograph which haunts the memory of every historian. An angry crowd is outside the building where the tribunal was convened. A young man waves a sheaf of political pamphlets. Many hands reach for the proffered tracts. His face is unmistakable; he is Yukio Mishima.

In the simulation, Mishima has an important place in twentieth-century literature, but in a prosperous, non-partitioned, postwar Japan, his politics are completely marginalized. In history, MishimaÂ’s Emperor-worship, his fanatical hatred of Russia, and his willingness to threaten nuclear war to regain lost territory became dominant themes in South Japanese politics. The forever-demonized image of Mishima is inescapably linked to that day thirty years ago when everything changed forever, the day that the Hokkaido crisis exploded in a nuclear exchange involving Japan, Russia, China, America, Britain, and France. Today we remember over two billion dead.

The theorists have created a scenario in which the destruction of two cities allows the world to be spared. The public is obsessed with this alternate history because it does not approach the horror of the truth.

Now it is true that some historians now suggest that the invasion of japan would have had a significantly smaller cost in lives than the 2.5 million envisioned in this piece, but I've never been persuaded by their arguments. And while I'm not so sure that the Japanese would have later acquired the bomb, I do recognize that a partition of Japan was a likely outcome of the war in the Pacific dragging on much longer, as the soviets would have been part of any invasion. Imagine the geopolitical impact of the existence of the People's Republic of Nippon and a divided Tokyo (similar to the status quo in Germany for four decades).

Ultimately, the use of the two atomic bombs at the end of World War II probably contributed to a more stable world situation than any other outcome could have -- unless, of course, we had been able to use them before the ailing Roosevelt's trip to Yalta and the subsequent partition of Europe that resulted from his inability to face down Stalin.

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It seems that a change in Medicaid regulations is forcing up the cost of birth control for college students --from $10 a month to $35. From the wailing in this Houston Chronicle article, you'd think that it was "the end of the world as we know it."

Daisy Rios, a senior at UH, left the health center empty-handed after learning that her formerly $10-per-month pills now cost $35. Because of warnings from the clinic, she knew the increase was imminent, but she still felt sticker shock when it kicked in, she said.

"That was just a little too much to pay for at that time," said Rios, 22, who lives with her parents and holds a work-study job during the school year. She still had a two-week supply of pills left, she said, so she had some time to decide whether to purchase another pack.

At $35, oral contraceptives at UH still are cheaper than the same medication at most retail pharmacies for a woman without insurance. At a local Walgreens, for example, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo costs $54 per month. But generic pills are available there starting at $24, the same price as generics at UH.

Planned Parenthood sells brand-name and generic oral contraceptives for $31 per month, but some students can qualify for free medication.

Many students have switched to generic contraceptives because they're cheaper, said Mary Hoban, project director for the American College Health Association. But the price still isn't as low as that of the name brands that previously were offered at discounted rates, she said.

There also isn't a corresponding generic for every name-brand contraceptive, including Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. Nor is there one for the popular NuvaRing, a device that some women use as an alternative to pills.

"People are quick to say generics are the answer, but it's still twice the cost (as before) and it's not always available for the particular pill or product," Hoban said.

Now let's look at this. The increase is less than a bottle of water or soda a day. Indeed, a switch to generics is about the cost of three lunches at McDonalds a month. And we won't get into the question of abstinence, despite the fact that it would be the best choice for most of the students in question, since they are single and living on such a fixed income that they cannot afford even this token increase in the cost of birth control -- how could they possibly afford the child that a failure of the pill could bring about?

No, what we have here is an entitlement mentality run rampant, combined with a lack of morality.

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Because the evidence simply is not reliable.

An investigating officer has recommended dismissing murder charges against a U.S. Marine accused in the slayings of three Iraqi men in a squad action that killed 24 civilians in the town of Haditha, according to a report.

The government's theory that Lance Cpl. Justin L. Sharratt had executed the three men was "incredible" and relied on contradictory statements by Iraqis, Lt. Col. Paul Ware said in the report, released Tuesday by Sharratt's defense attorneys.

"To believe the government version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, and sets a dangerous precedent that, in my opinion, may encourage others to bear false witness against Marines as a tactic to erode public support of the Marine Corps and mission in Iraq," Ware wrote.

Defense attorneys James Culp and Gary Myers said in a statement that he was pleased with the report and that it "reflected the value of the calm of a courtroom and the adversarial process."

Sharratt's mother Theresa said she was overjoyed.

"This is a huge result, that report is a declaration of Justin's innocence," she said. "This is very, very good news."

This is the second time a charge from the Haditha investigation has been viewed as suspect by the military's own investigators. This is the equivalent of a District Attorney's investigation reporting to the prosecutor that the charges against a defendant cannot be sustained by the evidence -- and makes it appear likely that similar conclusions will be drawn for every other defendant in the case.

I'm curious -- will John Murtha apoliogize for declaring this man guilty? Will various left-wing groups admit they were wrong in tarring the US military for a murder that didn't happen? And will the press make as big a splash retracting the charges they have made as they did in publicizing them?

My gues is that the answers will be as follows.

1) No -- it wouldn't fit with his political agenda.

2) No -- because they believe every soldier is a baby-killer anyway, just like in Vietnam.

3) No -- because the media never makes mistakes and views a one sentence retraction at the bottom of page D-9 as the moral equivalent of multiple front-page stories and editorials.

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Two -- no, make that four -- key campaign staffers quit in one day. What does that tell you about the state of the McCain Campaign?

John McCain jettisoned two top aides Tuesday, the one-time Republican front-runner struggling to right a presidential bid in deep financial and political trouble.

Campaign manager Terry Nelson and chief strategist John Weaver offered McCain their resignations, which the Arizona senator accepted with "regret and deep gratitude for their dedication, hard work and friendship."

Other senior aides followed the two out the door, and the campaign announced that Rick Davis, who managed McCain's 2000 bid and has served as the current campaign's chief executive officer, will take over.

"I'm determined to continue to face our challenges head-on and win," McCain said, vowing to press on in an e-mail to supporters. Aides insisted he would not drop out of the race.

And knowing McCain, that is probably true. he will stick it out and fight it out until he gets humiliated in Iowa and New Hampshire. Then, mired in campaign debt (he is already deep in the hole financially), the 2008 edition of the McCain Campaign will be forced to fold.

Why would this war hero fail so miserably? Simple -- he's been wrong on free speech, immigration and judges, all issues important to the GOP base. What's more, he has been arrogantly wrong on those issues, which has made his straying from the views of the base unforgivable, so don't expect to see him take the VP spot on the GOP ticket, either.

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Let no one claim that Cindy Sheehan supports American values -- she wants Americans who oppose her imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay

I have a dream of the detention centers that George has built and
filled being instead filled with Orange Clad neo-cons and neo-connettes.

In other words, she wants to emulate her heroes Castro and Chavez by criminalizing opposition to her politics.

What a pity that she disgraces and repudiates the values fought for by her son, Spc. Casey Sheehan, who died a hero for the country his mother clearly seeks to destroy.

H/T Michelle Malkin

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1 Nice site! Thanks for the nice conservative view . I have started a conservative digg alternative called GOP Hub (gophub.com). I wanted to invite you to come over and check it out, and feel free to join up and participate. Plus you can submit any articles your write here on your blog. Take care and have a great rest of the week .

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A little news out of my wife's hometown.

Alex Habay was in his Ford Taurus, stopped at a traffic light in downtown Meadville, Crawford County, yesterday morning, thinking about nothing, idly listening to a radio commercial while on his way to his summer job at the YMCA.

That's when a 1,500-pound wrecking ball smashed into the rear of his car.

"I was in complete bewilderment," said Mr. Habay, 20, of Hampton, a junior at Allegheny College. "At first I thought it was a car, but when I turned around there was no car.

"I was confused."

So were a lot of other people in Meadville yesterday.

Meadville police said the episode began around 9:45 a.m. about 3,600 feet away, near Allegheny College's Pelletier Library, where a crane was demolishing part of the building. That's where the cable holding the 3-foot-diameter wrecking ball snapped, starting its downhill tumble from the college to the town.

Police said crane operator Robby L. Boring, 28, of Meadville, was injured when he tried to stop the wrecking ball by throwing bricks in front of it.

As it gained momentum, the wrecking ball rumbled from the campus along North Main Street, pinballing back and forth across the street, hitting nine parked cars and damaging curbs with each impact.

By the time it reached Mr. Habay's car at North Main and Randolph streets, it had gained enough momentum to crush the trunk into the back seat, showering Mr. Habay with glass and pushing his car into the two cars in front of him. The fourth car in line was a Meadville police cruiser.

And here we thought stuff like this only happens in movies.

Posted by: Greg at 05:31 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Louisiana Senator David Vitter was clearly after damage control when he sent the email about his phone number being in the DC Madam's little black book.

"This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible," Vitter, 46, said in a statement, which his spokesman, Joel DiGrado, confirmed to the Associated Press.

"Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling," Vitter continued. "Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there -- with God and them. But I certainly offer my deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way."

Given Vitter's conservative rhetoric on marriage, I don't know that this statement is going to cut it with many people. That is especially true of the Left, which is having a field day with the story -- not noting that, in the end, this is "just about sex."

But I'd like to note something about this -- the mere fact that Vitter failed to live up to his principles does not invalidate them. The mere fact that he sinned does not necessarily render him unfit for office. Absent more information on this situation -- information I'm sure will come out in the next several days and weeks -- I'm not sure how I would respond if I were a Louisiana voter.

But I do keep being drawn back to a quote from St. Paul.

Romans 7:15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good.
17 But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.
19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.
20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.

Based upon what I know, I'll condemn Vitter's actions, but I won't condemn the man. His struggle is the struggle faced by each and every one of us who claims to be a follower of Christ -- for we are not made perfect through faith, merely forgiven and redeemed.

OPEN TRACKBACKING AT Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson's Website, The Random Yak, DeMediacratic Nation, Jeanette's Celebrity Corner, Right Truth, The Bullwinkle Blog, The Amboy Times, Conservative Cat, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Right Celebrity, Wake Up America, The World According to Carl, Pirate's Cove, Nuke's news and views, Blue Star Chronicles, The Pink Flamingo, CommonSenseAmerica, Right Voices, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Posted by: Greg at 05:05 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Well, other than being the first woman on the Supreme Court.

As one begins to consider whether O'Connor might be left with no similarly enduring achievements, it's worth pointing out that some part of this may well be of her own doing: Even at the height of her influence at the high court, O'Connor's critics tended to deride her constitutional stylings as closer to Muzak than Mozart. Justice Antonin Scalia once famously wrote that her argument in an abortion case "cannot be taken seriously." And her many critics often pointed to the lack of real rigor in her "undue burden" test for abortion restrictions; her "reasonable observer" test for whether the government has "endorsed" religion; or her "someday my prince will come" test for when affirmative action programs might become unnecessary in the future.

That's why Charles Krauthammer once wrote of O'Connor that "she had not so much a judicial philosophy as a social philosophy. Unlike a principled conservative such as Antonin Scalia, or a principled liberal such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, O'Connor had no stable ideas about constitutional interpretation." Buried in this criticism was the implication that her legal framework would go easily, once she was replaced by someone with a "serious" constitutional theory. Samuel Alito, her successor, is probably that someone, at least from Krauthammer's point of view. Certainly no one would suggest calling him a "moderate," a "pragmatist," or a "common-law judge." Alito has an agenda far broader than O'Connor's one-case-at-a-time approach. It's hardly surprising that he has not taken up where she left off.

It isn't just her replacement by a more conservative justice. it is that there was never any coherence in her jurisprudence. Constantly trying to split the difference, her positions were often ad hoc compromises that were difficult to apply in real world settings. Indeed, her opinions really offered no more Constitutional clarity than Potter Stewart's "I know it when I see it" standard on obscenity. As such, the latter years of her time as a justice will likely be remembered as an interregnum during which there was little, if any, certainty on Constitutional matters, and even fewer principled decisions enunciated.

Posted by: Greg at 04:43 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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