My picks for president, 2008

Some time ago, I opted for Gore/Spitzer. It's still a good choice, but my first prize now goes to Jimmy Carter and anybody.

"We don't talk to evil"

Let's see if this item makes into the MSM: Larry Wilkerson's--you remember him, Colin Powell's deputy at State--statement to the BBC that Iran sent to the US shortly after our invasion of Iraq, in which Iraq proposed resolution of most of the disputed matters between the US and Iran. Apparently the letter was thought legitimate by Powell, who forwarded it to Cheney, who put the kibosh on it.

Now, Wilkerson's been "out of the closet" for some time, but Powell's still hiding behind the skirts of save-facedness. If Powell confirms this account, we've got proof that the present administration in the White House has no interest in making peace in the Middle East--in fact, has a stake in formenting continuing turmoil--which accounts for all of their behavior in the region over the last six years.

Colonialism redux

If you Google "ink blot strategy" you get several cites to Bush's most recent "plan" for Iraq, of "winning" an area of Baghdad and then keeping control of it while flooding it with money and jobs and good will--a program that was used by the British, with marginal success, in defeating insurgencies in its colonies.
You'll also find this article, from nine months ago, that described Bush's then-new plan for Iraq. Sound familiar?

I love when this happens

In a straw poll to determine preferred Republican Presidential candidates, taken of Republican voters in McCain's hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, McCain finishes fourth, behind Mitt Romney (whoever that is), Duncan Hunter (ditto) and Newt Gingrich. Apparently, McCain (whom I've heretofore advisedly called a Nazi) is too conservative for the vast majority of those polled.

Now do you know why--besides the weather--I moved to SB from Arizona?

A new "axis of evil"

No longer Bush, Cheney and Rummie. It's Bush, Cheney and Rice.

Melting away

According to this report, the al-Sadr aligned militia will adapt to the "surge" by abandoning their black outfits, hiding their arms and waiting until the Americans decide their effort has succeeded.
Of course--they're no dummies, certainly not as dumb as POTUS.

The Associated Press reports

on der Fuhrer.

I favor a constitutional amendment

to require an intelligence test for voting in presidential elections. Here's why.