Emailer Kim: I'm watching the Bolton debate and Voinovich was crying, I'm talking actual tears here. He's afraid of what Bolton will do to further f**k up our already terrible world image and......he's afraid
that his koolaid sipping fellow republicans will vote for him tomorrow.

Emailer Mc: Pretty powerful moment, came at the end of his speech, right before Dowd's brief moment and Coleman the Chode who is on now. Definitely one of those "holy shit" moments.

Download | play -WMP

This is a better version.

Joe Gandelman of the Moderate Voice (who wites both sides of the issues) unknown to me, wrote a little review of my appearnce on MSNBC with Power Line's Paul Mirengoff. Bogus Gold took exception to the fact that TMV thought I came off better. So instead of debating the merrits of Joe's opinion he writes:

"Joe is a fan of compromises. Here's a compromise offer to him. How about I refuse to entertain anti-Jewish conspiracy mongering on the right (e.g. the anti-NeoCon/ Buchananish anti-Zionist stuff), and in return he declines to entertain the anti-Evangelical "theocracy" equivalent on the left? Sound like a deal? Seems moderate enough to me.

Does that make sense to anyone? The amount of time spent on the Justice Sunday crowd and their relentless attacks on the judiciary definitely makes this a valid argument to be brought up in context of that compromise.

Here's a compromise offer to Bogus Gold. How about I refuse to entertain anti-9/11 conspiracy theories on the left (Bush knew about the 9/11 attacks), and in return he declines to entertain the "liberal media bias" equivalent on the right?

A great post From Daily Kos.

That's all these wankers are interested in...bias. As Kos points out at the end of the article:

Problem is, Hewitt isn't interested in protecting the troops. He's interested in protecting his party's and his president's investment in the war.

That about sums it up for me with the 101st fighting kybs.

Voinovich continues campaign against Bolton nomination

The Republican senator who snubbed the White House by opposing John Bolton's nomination for US ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday took the unusual move of asking his colleagues to vote against Mr Bolton. George Voinovich, an Ohio Republican, wrote a letter to his fellow senators, arguing that the appointment of Mr Bolton, the outgoing undersecretary of state for arms control, would hurt US efforts to improve relations with its allies.

"John Bolton's nomination sends a negative message to the world community," Mr Voinovich wrote

CNN: Novak says "Get the Hell Out" of Iraq Now

On the Saturday edition of CNN's Capitol Gang, Bob Novak admits that we must leave Iraq as soon as possible.

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Is Bob suddenly seeing things the same as Ted Kennedy?

A Veteran named Nate emailed me this item that infuriated him:
Rocketman is upset at Ted Koppel for giving a tribute to our fallen:

"Soldiers have been dying in the line of duty for a long time--even in peacetime, theirs is a dangerous profession. When did the left suddenly start caring? I'm afraid that's true. Soldiers have been dying in the line When did the left suddenly start caring?"

I know it pains you to hear all the names of our departed vets because you led the charge with the rest of the 101^st fighting keyboard brigade to send them into battle. A soldier dying in or out of combat is a serious and painful matter that cuts between blue and red states, yet you only look to take yourself off the hook. Reading the names in honoring these brave people who are actually out in the battlefield, you evoke attacks on liberals because you really want to assail yourself.

You waste so much time trying to prove the validity of Intelligent design, (and I hate using the word intelligence in a post describing the one you just penned) you might have had the decency to make sure the evidence was sound, they were properly armed, had a thoughtful plan, and were fighting for more than a set of unproven ideals. The uniforms they wear contain living, breathing human beings (not chess pawns) just trying to survive in a world gone crazy.

The flood of notes contained words like "gutless," "ridiculous" and "outraged." We thought you might enjoy sharing in some of those comments:

"I immediately emailed my senator, John Warner," wrote KM of Virginia. "I sent him a two word messsage: 'start packing.' " She continued, "Yes, this was a great disappointment and loss. 'Defeat,' however, seems too strong a word. We know God is sovereign and the earth is the Lord’s. I am praying for His will to be done on earth as in heaven."

Gary Bauer, president of American Values, called the agreement "a sad day for America." Bauer said, "it is now more likely that radical social change will continue to be forced on the American people by liberal courts committed to same-sex marriage, abortion on demand and hostility to religious expression."

Please share with C&L your feelings as well.

WHY TOM RIDGE IS UNFIT FOR PUBLIC OFFICE

From Sunday's very long Washinton Post article on Homeland Security insecurity, which features among other lapses contractors robbing the Federal government blind:

As chief of the Homeland Security Department, Ridge grew frustrated by the drumbeat of bad news contained in the audits, particularly from his department's own office of inspector general, according to Ervin. Twice last year, Ridge summoned the inspector general to his office to complain about his reports, according to Ervin.

Ridge was particularly upset with one report documenting problems with a visa-waiver program and another describing difficulties with terrorist watch lists, Ervin said.

"He said he regarded the reports as being unduly critical," said Ervin, whose political appointment expired in December and who now works at a District think tank. "He was trying to make his displeasure known."

Ridge said he never asked Ervin to "modify or mollify" his reports. But he objected to Ervin's methods.

"I said, 'Do you feel obligated to send every report to the Hill? Does everything you do have to end up in a press release?' " (WaPo link)