Chinese meteorologists crack down on bad weather.
Month: January 2008
That Bad Re-Baathification Law
You remember: the one actual national act of political reconciliation in Iraq? The one actual positive political result of the surge? Two words: never mind:
"We cannot regard this law as a step in the national reconciliation process. The spirit of revenge is so clear in many articles of the law," [vice-president] Hashemi said in an interview.
"It is not only me who objects to signing it, but the whole Presidency Council."
The council consists of President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, Shi’ite Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi, and Hashemi. It must ratify all laws passed by parliament, otherwise they are sent back to the legislature.
The View From Your Window
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, 6.43 am.
Clinton’s Fundraising Skills
"Plouffe said the [Obama] campaign, surprisingly, had its best single fundraising period the day after losing the New Hampshire primary to Clinton."
Von Hoffmann Award Nominee
"For all intents and purposes, McCain’s campaign is over. The physicians have pulled up the sheet; the executors of the estate are taking over. Paying bills and winding down – not strategizing, organizing, and getting the message out – will be the order of the day," – Charlie Cook, National Journal, last July.
I actually saw the logic of McCain’s victory back in November. My Times of London column holds up pretty well:
The odds against McCain are still high. But he is not unimaginable as the nominee. It’s worth recalling that in December 2003, at about this time in the primary cycle, John Kerry had a national rating of 4%. If one establishment Vietnam vet can come back from the political dead to win the nomination it can happen again.
An Awards Glossary is here.
Malkin Award Nominee
"The Republican Party has been hijacked. Over the past month a new Axis of Evil has emerged — not one based in Damascus, Tehran or Pyongyang — but instead in Cedar Rapids, Charleston, South Carolina, Derry, New Hampshire and Boca Raton, Florida. It is the liberal and “independent” voters in these 4 states that have nearly completed a deed that makes Kim Jong Il envious — the near crippling of the American Electoral System. These four states have combined their native liberal populism with an imported liberal electorate and have forced the GOP to accept a nominee so distasteful that in more than one poll — the numbers of voters choosing not to vote and those choosing to vote third party actually exceed those who will hold their nose and vote for Maverick, War Hero, Amnesty Supporter, John McCain." – Brett Winterble.
Volcker For Obama
An interesting endorsement from the man who helped slay the last big inflationary wave.
Maciel Dead
One of the most powerful and well-connected child-abusers in the Catholic hierarchy, Marcial Maciel Degollado, has died. Rocco’s obit is here. Benedict made some efforts to hold him accountable for countless crimes, but, like most of the child-abusers with strong Vatican connections, Maciel was never prosecuted:
The community’s formal notice said that Maciel passed away "in the bosom of the Catholic church."
Obama, Israel And The Jews
Marty Peretz has no problems with the guy. And if Marty doesn’t …
Face Of The Day
US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson speaks during a press conference to mark Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day at the US Treasury in Washington, DC, 31 January 2008. Treasury Secretary Paulson predicted 30 January that banking sector and financial markets would recover from a wide-ranging credit crunch that has reverberated through world markets. By Jim Watson/AFP/Getty.
The Dish 