Could Nebraska Politics Be the Key to Changing Course in Iraq?

Here are two really interesting articles about how the Iraq War may be causing a re-alignment in Nebraska politics (specifically between Senators Chuck Hagel and Ben Nelson), and how that could affect the rest of the Congress and country. Washington Post New Nebraska Network Obviously, I'm biased being from Nebraska, but there is a lot going on here that could affect us all.

Evening Chuckle: Go See Blades of Glory!!!

This is a reprise of a post I did a while back for the new movie starring my friend (see below). "Blades of Glory" is coming out tonight. Go pump up the opening weekend box office! This is the trailer for the new Will Ferrell movie "Blades of Glory". Its about two rival figure skaters who are banned from skating but find a loophole that allows them to compete as a duo. It also features my friend Ben Wilson as "Gary the Fox". Gary is, apparently, an ice-capades-esque character. (Here's the IMDB page for the movie. Scroll down to see Ben. He's right between Peggy Fleming and Scott Hamilton. So, that's something!) Enjoy.

Mugabe to Run in 2008

Zimbabwe's ruling party voted to nominate Robert Mugabe as their candidate for President in 2008, again. So, much for them having some sense. He's obviously done such a good job with the 1700% inflation, world's lowest life expectancy (although, at 83, Mugabe is doing something to bring that number up), and pushing the country to the brink of civil war. This is why term limits are a good thing. Now all they have to do is round up the opposition and beat, arrest, and frame them. Oh wait...I guess they are ahead of schedule.

Crazy Crap That I Rank High on in Google

dead regımes ın the world #9 zimbabwe comedy clips #1 New washington dollar coin conspiracy #1 things you should know about newt #2 reasons to hate fidel castro #1 why america is the worst country in the world #1 (law of unintended consequences) worst country in the world America #1 kurdish comedy clips #2 unity 08 bloomberg #1 things you should know by 30 #7 Things you should know about russian women #4 athf Taliban #4 gaydar colbert invention – last one on page 6 (this guy was persistant!) hypocites cancer #3 pkk.be #4 change hardwood floor in Cuba #1 godless dollar coin conspiracy #7 chinese bunny killer #2 "jimmy carter" rabbit #6

Heaping Pile of Mugabe

Pressure is mounting on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. African leaders met today in Tanzania to discuss the growing crisis in Zimbabwe. They placed the President of South Africa in charge of easing the political crises in Zimbabwe. Despite the fact that Mugabe hasn't been openly excoriated by other African leaders (mostly due to Mugabe's anti-colonial legacy), the private rebukes are growing. Mugabe's Zimbabwean opposition is obviously worrying him as they once again arrested the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, and held him for a few hours. This was Tsvangirai's second arrest in the last three weeks. And finally, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Bishop Desmond Tutu (who has spoken out against Mugabe before) have a scathing op-ed in the Post today about Zimbabwe and it's leadership. "Some argue that the world has no business interfering with, or even commenting on, the internal affairs of a sovereign state. This principle is exceptionally convenient for dictators and for people who do not wish to be bothered about the well-being of others." Let's hope Mugabe and his ruling party can have the sense to get out of the way before Zimbabwe erupts into civil war that will destabilize the entire southern African region.

Films by Santorum?

Apparently, former Pennsylvania Senator Ricky Santorum wants to make documentaries to tell "the other side of the story". Sadly, at present, he lacks the necessary funding. This will be an interesting departure as most films featuring Santorum are relegated to the gay porn world. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, Google Santorum. Only do it if you reeeeeeally want to know. There is no way I'm linking to that!) PS: I forgot to add: Don't touch that dial! It's got Santorum on it!

Foreign Exchange: Ultra Late Edition

I know I'm late posting this week's "Foreign Exchange". They didn't put the episode up on Google video but they have it available for download. Check it out.

Welcome National Review Readers!

Apparently, the blog of the National Review Online - "The Corner" - linked to my post this morning about Chuck Hagel and Jim Webb's imminent Iraq legislation. However, what apparently caught their eye was my throw away speculation at the end that perhaps this is the first incarnation of a Hagel-Webb Unity 08 presidential pairing. I have had over 1100 hits since around noon. So, welcome National Review readers! Bookmark me and comeback often. You probably won't agree with a lot of what I write about (although, if I remember correctly, "The Corner" dubbed George Allen "Senator Felix Macacawitz" during the 2006 election - so, maybe we're not so far apart!), but you may find it interesting to hear a more independent perspective. Everybody is welcome.

Hagel and Webb to Introduce Binding Iraq Legislation

Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) announced on "This Week" that either tomorrow or Tuesday, he and Jim Webb will introduce binding legislation to change course in Iraq. This legislation will have the "force of law" - no more non-binding resolution crap. It will focus on redeployment, training, and equipment. Hagel also said that we are "destroying" our military; the surge is failing; and he raised the specter of impeachment. Unity 08 ticket: Hagel/Webb?

Eric Cantor Is a Moron: Update!

Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor is on Hardball right now and the only thing he seems to be able to say is that the President is the Commander in Chief. He looks ignorant, toadying, and just plain stupid. Plus, he's got that dumb obviously mouth-breathing smile/death rictus on his face. How the hell did this guy get elected? Is there actually a section of Virginia that is that stupid? I find that hard to believe. OK, I feel better now. UPDATE: Cantor is going to be on the NewsHour tonight! Stay tuned for more rage!

How Long Will Mugabe Last?

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is getting hit from all sides nowadays: Western countries are pushing for African countries to speak out against Mugabe. At least one African leader is on board: "Zambian president calls Zimbabwe 'sinking Titanic'", along with Bishop Tutu. The Post is crapping on him, too. I was listening to BBC on the radio and they made the interesting point that no one - anywhere - is planning for post-Mugabe Zimbabwe. So, those people have no end to their troubles in sight. Look to Iraq for their possible future. Cuba may have a similar post-Castro fate in store for it as well.

Jimmy Carter: Bunny Killer

I learned a fascinating bit of Presidential trivia last night: Jimmy Carter apparently killed a bunny rabbit with a boat oar. And it was caught on camera somehow. How did he not get re-elected?

Sign of Things to Come?

At least 26 were killed and dozens more wounded when a series of bombs were detonated in Kirkuk today. I mentioned Kirkuk yesterday but I didn't expect the violence to come this quickly. It is probably due to the combination of Kurds trying to annex Kirkuk (and it's oil) and the insurgents who have been displaced from Baghdad because of the crackdown. Whatever the cause, look for this to get worse before it gets better. This could be the beginning of the end of the relative peace of Kurdistan.

Turkey and Kurdistan Update

The first segment on this episode of "Foreign Exchange" is an interesting report on the current dynamics in Iraqi Kurdistan vis-a-vis Turkey from the perspective of a Turkish journalist. (This is a subject I have talked about many times in the past but I've dropped the ball on updating it. Ever since the PKK's unilateral ceasefire, the tensions haven't been as stark. However, that may change as the Kirkuk resolution nears.)

Sam Waterston on Unity08 on "This Week"

Watch the video of "Law & Order" star Sam Waterston talking about Unity08 and moving toward the political center on ABC's "This Week". Sign up to be a Unity08 delegate!

Amen, Bishop Tutu

Will anyone speak out about the oppression in Zimbabwe? How about someone who knows a little something about being oppressed, Bishop Desmond Tutu: "What more has to happen before we who are leaders, religious and political, of our mother Africa are moved to cry out 'Enough is enough'? Do we really care about human rights, do we care that people of flesh and blood, fellow Africans are being treated like rubbish, almost worse than they were ever treated by rabid racists?" Here endeth the lesson.

Foreign Exchange: North Korea Nuclear Deal, Islamic Art History, and German Ambassador

Here is this week's "Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria" (they were late posting it). Can we trust the North Koreans to give up their nuclear arsenal? The Islamic art story is particularly interesting. Enjoy.

Wake up, Idiots!

China has passed a law that offers protection for private property. This is Communism dying...with a whimper. (Are you listening, Cuba?) It will also keep China on the fast track to a full market economy - something of which every American should take note. Unfortunately, in this country we are too obsessed with "fighting terror" and shopping at Wal-Mart to notice or care that China will be the dominant power in the 21st century unless we pull our heads out of the sand and pay attention. They already own a massive amount of our debt. Something that they can threaten us with to affect our policies towards them. They are in the process of a massive military build-up (and they aren't bogged down in any wars, either). They are cultivating strategic relationships around the world with many questionable regimes (particularly in Africa) in an attempt to both strengthen their own hand internationally and limit American hegemony. They are doing all this and more...and we do nothing. Despite this move, China is still led by a brutally repressive regime that conducts far more executions every year than all other nations combined. They are not our pals. We don't need to fear them, we certainly don't need to hate them [Note: I am note bashing the Chinese people, just the now psuedo-Communist regime.], but we do need to respect them. Pay attention.

George Allen Back in the Senate?!?!

AAAAAHHH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! [Wait a minute...let me catch...my breath. OK, I'm better.] AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! Dear (thankfully) former Senator Allen, I know it must be hard to see your replacement come in and have a greater and more positive impact in his first two months than you had in your full six years; however, that's no reason to do something rash. (Although, YouTube will thank you for all the extra hits the M-word video would get again.) For a list of reason's why you should give this up madman's fever dream, see here. Love, Robb

Castro to Run for Re-"Election" in 2008

Apparently, he is making that "good" of a recovery. He'll be President ten-years after he's dead. If he ever dies. Of course, there won't be anything/one left in Cuba to be President of...

Israel Showing Interest in Arab League Peace Deal

Pray that this happens and that the US can somehow piggyback on this deal. If we can even bask in the reflected glory of such a deal, it would go a along way towards improving US-Arab relations. It would remove the #1 issue that Arabs/Muslims raise against the US and it would be seen as backing Palestinians/Arabs over Israel for a change. Some come on Rice. Time to secure a lasting and respectable legacy (even though our role would be tangential and totally undeserved) for one of biggest failures of an Administration in US history. That should be motivation. (Plus all the lives it would save. But, y'know. Whatever works for you.)

Evening Chuckle: Maybe That's How You Die

When I came to, I had an epiphery. Steve Carell. The Office. Enjoy.

Hagel Punks Out

...at least for now. "The announcement, which was billed by Hagel and his staff as a definitive answer to questions about his political future, left far more questions than answers." Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska) announced today that he might run for President, he might run for re-election to the Senate, he might retire, or he might buy a ballpark. So, basically, we got nothing. However, Hagel is still hinting at an independent run. He is tempting the Unity08 crowd. So, I guess we'll wait (longer) and see.

Hagel to Announce Something Tomorrow

Chuck Hagel will announce his political future tomorrow in Omaha. Retire? Run for a third Senate term? Run for President? (Unity 08?) He would add an interesting element to the Republican field. He is almost exactly what the conservatives want except for his vehement anti-Iraq War position. Wait and see.

300

The wife and I went to see the movie "300" this afternoon. GO SEE IT! It was macho and violent, it was AWESOME. Seriously, my wife only went to it because it was my birthday but SHE LOVED IT and she hates most of the crap that I like! [And rightly so!] So, in summation: violence, bravery, honor. Solid basis for entertainment. Frank Miller is a genius.

Evening Chuckle: The End of the World

Check this out: (Caution, mucho cursing.) Enjoy. The End of the World

National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Tomorrow, March 10th, is the second annual National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This is a day that has been set aside to help raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among women and girls. More men than women are infected with HIV but the gap is rapidly shrinking and women need to be aware of the high risk behaviors that can result in HIV infection and how to protect themselves. For more information, please visit the National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day presented by AIDSinfo.

Crazy Crap That I Rank High on in Google

I've been compiling this for about the last week. Here are a few interesting Google searches and where I rank on the results page: How did the generalist cell have to change in order to become intestinal cells? #2 "the worst country in the world" Zimbabwe #2 [As God as my witness, I will get to #1!] worst country in the world Zimbabwe #3 [Ditto] amoeba Kurdistan #6 [Huh?] cuban finch mutation photo #1 on third page athf trailer #7 [Go Moononites!] unsuccessful communist countries #6 [That's a looong list, too.] kurdish comedy clips #4 [I've dropped completely off this one by now. I guess those Kurdish comedians have a lot of material to work with nowadays.] IVF in Saudi's culture #9 untitled mastershake project #2 Feb 28, 2007 issue of USA Penny Saver #6 Everything sucks #9 [Amongst the Reel Big Fish and Descendants lyrics – my crowning achievement.]

Foreign Exchange: Russian Petulance, Vermont-Rwanda, and Opinions from the Arab Street

As promised (although a day late), here is this week's episode of "Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria". This week: Why is Russia thinkin' they are all cool all of the sudden?; High School Students from Vermont visit student in Rwanda; and the latests Zogby poll on attitudes in the Middle East. The Zogby poll data is particularly enlightening and I highly recommend. Enjoy.

Dollar Coin Conspiracy

Apparently, several of the new George Washington dollar coins were struck without "In God We Trust" on the edges. This is either: 1. Another attempt by the Godless liberal elite who (now) run the country to eliminate religion from public life. or 2. An attempt to raise interest in a dead horse of an idea that gets trotted out and beaten every several years. Let me go on record as saying that I believe #2 is the answer. (Seriously, I really do.) I think we should get rid of the dollar bill because, according to the Government Accountability Office, using coins would save around $500 million a year. [Unfortunately, we whiny Americans don't want to have to carry change. Boo-hoo. I swear we get worked up over the stupidest damn things. But I digress.] However, even I think this is a little too convenient. They are saying it is a quality control issue not a mechanical one. Which means that the QC folks let some slide; but if there is no mechanical problem, how did it happen in the first place!?! Witness the most boring government conspiracy ever!

Zimbabwe Nearing the Breaking Point

I talk a lot of $#!# about Zimbabwe but it is only because the government is so bad. So, this report by the International Crisis Group that Zimbabwe is close to having massive flare-ups in violence makes me feel ambivalent. If the country explodes in violence it will just be the already poverty stricken average Zimbabwean who would bear the brunt. It could also spill over into neighboring South Africa and (friend of the blog) Botswana. On the other hand, the threat of violence seems to be scaring the political elite who may throw Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe under the bus to try and save their own hides. Hopefully, this would lead to greater democratic reform and the people could finally have a competent government. Wouldn't that be novel? Pray for Zimbabwe.

Evening Chuckle: Legion of Impact, Part 4

More Legion of Impact! Enjoy.

Botswanan Model for HIV Testing May Be Adopted in the US

Here is a story that is an interesting confluence of two of my usual subjects: HIV/AIDS and Botswana/Zimbabwe. Botswana made HIV testing almost universal (with the option to opt out, of course) and the percentage of the estimated number of HIV-infected people receiving anti-HIV treatment rose from approximately 17% to 70%. That's ridiculously effective. Go Botswana! The program was so successful that it is being considered here in the states. Of course, there are human rights issues and the concern that people won't get the proper counseling if the number of tests rises dramatically. Also, the safety net for receiving HIV-drugs is stretched thin right now and a massive influx of people who need free drugs is likely to break the system. Read more about it. Or just go get tested.

Unity 08: Bloomberg?

Newsweek has an article about New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the potential that he will mount an independent campaign for President, which could include Unity 08.

Foreign Exchange: Iran, AIDS in China, and Reforming Islam

I just found out I can embed episodes of "Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria". This is just about my favorite TV show and it pretty much exemplifies what I've wanted to do with this blog: help expose people to stories of which they might not otherwise be aware. I'm trying to find an old one that I found particularly informative. It was about trade with China and how they own a lot of our debt and that the best way to resolve this would be to have the value of the dollar drop. Kind of counter-intuitive, very interesting. If I can't find it, I'll try and summarize it (I've got it on the Tivo.) Anyway, the run time on this is kind of long (26 minutes) but if you are interested in a particular segment, you can always fast forward. The new episodes are supposed to be available on Tuesdays; so, this will be a regular feature starting this Tuesday. I'm pumped. Enjoy.

Evening Chuckle: Legion of Impact, Part 3

The Legion of Impact Returns! Enjoy.