Globe Spills Beans on Thompson

The Boston Globe led today's political news with the headline Thompson set to run, in jolt to GOP field.  

[ Link]

While it's certainly noteworthy that Fred Thompson may run for President, I would hardly say his entry into the race is a jolt to the field.  Thompson's long intended run for President is an even worse kept secret than our covert actions against Iran.

 

Americans and the Bible

According to the latest Gallup poll more than three-quarters of all Americans believe that the Bible is the Word of God (which according to the survey means we believe either the Bible is literally God's word or that it was inspired by God).  

I am always loathe to draw any big conclusions from such surveys, so no grandiose observations will be made here.  I do find it interesting, however, that no mention of this poll hit the major press wires.  Suppose the percentage had dropped since the last polling, it seems to me the headlines would blare that Americans had become more secular.  

Incidentally, the article notes that the numbers cited have held steady for at least the past 15 years.  

[Link]  

Memorial Day Reflections

Some time during the hot, dusty summer of 1950 my Grandfather enlisted in the United States Army during the Korean War. His experience in combat would become the defining moment of his adult life influencing everything from his will to survive to his profound faith in Christ. Clarence Fodder's service is but a personal anecdote of the reality facing many Americans today. For these, Memorial Day provides an opportunity for a sometimes complacent Nation to reflect.

On this day, although we mourn the sacrifice of those lost, we remember the ideals they left behind. Even as my Grandfather answered the call to serve in an ultimately ambiguous conflict some half-century ago, somewhere today in the wind-burned deserts of Iraq an American soldier around my age will don his helmet and ready his weapon while setting out to patrol the deadly Mansur District in downtown Baghdad. The enemies are different but the act of sacrifice is the same.

Memorial Day reminds us that this is nothing new. In some form or other, threats against America have persisted since a humid July meeting in Philadelphia gave birth to our Nation nearly 231 years ago. From our humble beginnings in guerrilla warfare against the British, to the monumental threat of fascism in WWII, to our showdown with fascism's latest iteration in the Middle East today, America has proudly faced each challenge thanks to the brave men and women whose lives we celebrate today.

Now as then, the stakes are high. Iraq represents a clear struggle between the tired views of radical Islam and the values we hold dear and defend as a Nation. One day, however, this conflict will cease. History will write its pages on America's foray into Iraq and the American soldiers of whom we speak today will enter the profound tradition of American bravery in the face of obstacle. They will enter this hallowed hall as staunch lights of freedom in one of the world's darkest places.

On this Memorial Day, we are pressed to consider two sides of this same coin. The joint sacrifices of yesteryear and today remind us of war's cost, while our reflections on the ideals for which they died remind us that some things are worth the fight.

Executive Pay Inequality?

From its latest hard-hitting, investigative piece, the New York Times ran a story today highlighting the growing wage gap between American CEOs and lower ranked executives.  

[ Link]  

I suppose the piece is typical of a liberal publication so no surprise there.  It occurs to me, however, that perhaps we have taken the quest to right economic inequality a bit too far when we're concerned with the wage gaps of corporate executives.  

Dartmouth's Wright Welcomes Vets

I seldom comment on the leadership of Dartmouth President James Wright. In my Undergrad days, he mostly typified everything that was wrong with a bulky college bureaucracy. But in the interest of fairness, I must call attention to a rather surprising article about the Dartmouth President in yesterday's NYT.

Jim Wright, a former Marine himself, has made some eight visits to the Walter Reed Army hospital in effort to encourage wounded veterans to pursue higher education. The article mentions at least one such veteran who will enroll at Dartmouth this fall.

In turn, due largely to Wright's leadership, a network of sorts is being established to provide similar resources of encouragement and insight to veterans returning to the United States. My friend Joe Malchow over at Dartblog is right to note:

Dartmouth's new embrace of the military sets it above and beyond its peer schools, and is one example of just how agile and cutting a ship she is.

[Link]

As an alum, it's nice to see Dartmouth making headlines for something positive. We can, perhaps, quibble justly about ROTC commissions and the like but the blaring headline about Dartmouth welcoming soldiers is far more persuasive to the National consciousness than the minutia of scholarships awarded to ROTC students. Dartmouth is indeed an agile ship and our ability to set this standard for our sister institutions is impressive by any mark. This is one case in which I am glad to give Jim Wright his due. His encouragement to our men and women in uniform is much appreciated.

Tough Week for Dems

Been a tough week down in Washington on Congressional Democrats. The situation must be pretty grim if you hear as much from the New York Times and the BBC. The two stories hitting the wires below are noteworthy.

The first splash hit the New York Times today with a feature story on the Democrat leadership's inability to deliver on lobbying overhaul. Apparently, the measure fell through due to a lack of support within the Democrat caucus itself.

[Link]

Some will recall that early in the 2006 campaign, Democrats lambasted the GOP as the caucus of corruption vowing to bring federal lobbying reform to change the way "Washington does business." Ironically, the very leaders who championed the agenda, who presumably have much to gain from its success, have been the first to bail on its implementation. Congressman John 'Abscam' Murtha led the revolt and inexplicably broke Speaker Pelosi's newly implemented House rules by threatening to withhold Defense Appropriations earmarks from a Republican Congressman who question Murtha's own earmarks for his district.

Hopes of passing lobbying reform under the present Congress now look to be a distant memory relegated to the already lengthy annals of 2006 campaign promises broken.

But the biggest blow for Dems came when Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid announced yesterday that Senate Democrats would yank a provision calling for the withdrawal of American forces in Iraq. With one veto already on the books and Memorial Day just around the corner, Democrats grandstanding on the issue was over before it began. Not even Harry Reid was silly enough to let the issue lapse past the holiday when it would be especially easy to highlight the Democrats failure to support our troops.

[Link]

The Congressional leadership has tried to frame the issue in positive terms, but make no mistake the shift is a major blow for a Democrats who viewed '06 as a public mandate to withdraw from Iraq. As Steny Hoyer conceded the votes to override the President's veto, "just weren't there."

Few people will credit the President for standing his ground and calling out the Democrats refusal to support our troops. Yet, it was the force of his resolve which brought the stalemate to an end and provided our troops the funding they desperately need.

One can call President Bush many things, but in this show down he didn't blink.

Campus Crypts

The Boston Globe, ever the bastion of all things chic and cool, reports on the latest trend to hit colleges across the Nation- campus crypts.

The rationale offered by one college officials is,

"People look back on their college years and say, `Those were the best days of my life...Why not spend eternity there?"

[Link]

As much as I love Dartmouth, I can honestly say the above thought has never crossed my mind. 

 

Though, perhaps, this would give new meaning to applicants dying to get in?

 

 

Song of the Week: Behind Closed Doors

Shifting genres a bit, the Pax Plena song of the week Behind Closed Doors takes us deep into uncharted territory exploring the world of alienation rock via the alternative-punk group Rise Against.

Direct from Chicago's political machine, the left leaning group Rise Against seizes upon the angst and vitriol most of us left behind in Junior High School (unless of course you happen to be Jimmy Carter in which case your anger and vitriol is saved for marketing Sunday School books) and turns it into an enthralling medley of sound and emotion in this instant classic. Insofar as one can call any sound beautiful, the stains produced by Rise Against, in this track specifically, breathe new life into an otherwise sterile world created by the pop music of modern record labels.

What makes their role in modern rock music unique is that their methods are completely unconventional. Rather than turning to the cookie-cutter sounds of Snow Patrol for example, Rise Against revives hard rock, in the style of Black Sabbath, and combines it with a new, melodic sound that drips with the raw emotions most people can understand. Although their latest album is a far cry from their inaugural piece of 2001, the album from which Behind Closed Doors is taken uniformly represents the best sounds of a band on the move and the musical development of artists who are willing to press their limits.

The song itself tells a story of survival and the will of one to live despite obstacle- essentially the will not to live behind a closed door. The video is posted below for your viewing consideration. Lyrics follow after the jump. Enjoy!



Behind Closed Doors

Chairs thrown and tables toppled,
Hands armed with broken bottles,
Standing no chance to win but,
We're not running, we're not running.

There's a point I think we're missing,
It's in the air we raise our fists in,
In the smiles we cast each other,
My sister, my brother.

About the time we gave up hoping,
We never find these locks still open,
Stumbling on stones unturned,
The hurt we feel, we all have earned.

The lines we've cross in search of change,
but all they see is treason

[Chorus:]
Although we have no obligation to stay alive,
On broken backs we beg for mercy, we will survive,
(Break out) I won't be left here,
Behind closed doors.

Bonfires burn like beacons,
Guiding the lost and weakened.
Flames dance on crashing waves,
Guiding ships who've gone astray

Time out, let's stop and think this through,
We've all got better things to do,
Than talk in circles, run in place,
Answers inches from my face.

[Chorus]

Black eyes, broken fingers,
Blood drips and I let it run,
down my lips and to my swollen gums,
When hope is non-existent,
Our instincts all scream "Run",
We never turn our backs or even bite our tongue.

[Chorus x2]

Dobson Balks at Giuliani

Most of the major press wires trumpeted the news that Focus on the Family founder James Dobson has unequivocally refused to endorse former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani in his quest for the GOP nomination.

[Link]

If given the option between Giuliani and a Democrat, Dobson has pledged to either vote for an "also-ran" candidate or simply not vote. As a conservative, his point is well taken though I'm not sure I would ever resort to the position of shirking my civic duty to vote- even if none of the candidates overly impressed me.

What is interesting is that Dobson's presser made for such big news. After all, it seems fairly obvious that Dobson (and most evangelicals) would refuse to support Giuliani as a candidate given that his views couldn't be more antithetical to their agenda (spare his credentials on National Security which aside from 9/11 have yet to be truly vetted).

Consider also that there are a plethora of GOP candidates in the race now with whom conservatives can feel comfortable- indeed one of their own in, my personal favorite, Mike Huckabee.

Recent Trends in College Admissions

The New York Times ran an interesting article on the increasingly competitive college admissions process. Word on the street is that the Ivies are becoming so difficult to get into that students are forgoing the Ancient Eight altogether and applying to second-tier schools like Lehigh, Middlebury, Tufts and Bowdoin.

[Link]

I understand why students in the thick of the application process would broaden their options and consider other schools. It only makes sense to approach the process from a healthy, realist perspective of which schools are within one's reach.

But what I find surprising about the trend is that so many students would opt out of applying to the Ivies completely. Sure, the process is competitive and only a small percentage are actually chosen, but it seems to me that students would send out an application just to tempt the fates, if you will.

On a broader level, it will be interesting to see what the Ivies do in response to the admissions frenzy. The line the schools tread is much like an upscale country club of sorts- they need to be exclusive enough to maintain their reputation but not impossibly exclusive so that people no longer want to come.

Some Reactions to the GOP Debate in SC

I've made no secret of my firm support for former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in the GOP primary. Unsurprisingly, tonight's debate only solidified my commitment. With debate two on the books for the Republican candidates, here are a few thoughts on the evening:

First of all, on Gov. Huckabee's performance in particular, I thought Mike handled himself quite well in defending his record in Arkansas. No one can fault a governor for backing the wishes of his state (who incidentally voted for the tax increase to fund a massive AR roads project). It's what any decent state leader would do. Of course, I'm not naive enough to think the explanation will ever be enough to satisfy the Giulianis and the Gilmores, but staying on point and noting the context can only help validate Huckabee's fiscal conservatism to the Republican rank-and-file. Lest I forget, Huckabee's great draw so far has been his ability to set himself apart from the second tier candidates by using humor to disarm opponents and eloquence to win fans. Huckabee had the line of the night when he remarked, "We've had a Congress that spent money like John Edwards at a beauty shop." Well done.

Second, nearly all camps agree that the Fox News hosted debate ran much more smoothly than the Chris Matthews circus of a few weeks ago. The questions from Britt Hume, Wendell Goler and Chris Wallace finally got the candidates off their talking points and forced them to seriously address the questions put before them.

Third, real separation occurred within the tiers of candidates. If the order in which the candidates were interviewed afterwards is any indication of the winnowing field, then the stars of the evening were Giuliani, McCain, Romney and Huckabee. This would be largely correct according to early consensus. Former VA Governor Jim Gilmore brought some of the heat with his criticism of the aforementioned, but his performance in the debate was itself underwhelming. The clear loser of the night was Texas Congressman Ron Paul who tanked his bid by insinuating that America deserved the attacks of September the 11th. In short, Paul once again seemed like the GOP's crazy uncle while the candidates outside the top four took the role of miscellaneous second cousin. They were utterly interchangeable with no real definition to any of them. Look for the next debate to extend fewer invitations.

Fourth, look for the gloves to come off soon. The questions tonight were intentionally antagonistic in hopes of steering the candidates toward engaging one another. The exchange between Romney and McCain was a clear example, while Gilmore's attack on the top four was another. I think this is good. The sooner Republicans can rally behind a smaller number of candidates moving forward, the better we will be able to rally behind an eventual nominee.

Finally, I understand that Ronald Reagan is the Gipper, the Grandfather of the GOP, and the icon of all Republican electoral success. I have no intention of taking anything away from the Reagan legacy. As a good Republican, I stood in line some 4 hours to pay my respects at the United States Capitol when he passed away. But given the many difficult challenges facing America, both at home and abroad, it occurs to me that Republicans had better look ahead toward offering Americans a fresh vision for the country rather than trying to revive one offered over twenty years ago.

In all, a solid night for Huckabee at what was by far the most substantive debate held by either party to date- a debate heavy on policy and low on spin.

It's no wonder the Democrats are trying to avoid a Fox News debate at all costs.

Update: For those who may have missed it. Watch the debate in full here.

Instapundit GOP Debate Poll

For those interested, Instapundit has a poll up gaging viewer reaction to the South Carolina GOP debate. 

Of course, my long standing encouragement to vote for Huckabee goes without saying but by all means participate at the link below.

[Link]

Song of the Week: Guitars, Cadillacs

The Pax Plena song of the week comes to you from country music legend Dwight Yoakam and is titled Guitars, Cadillacs.

As some fans may recall, way back in 1986 Dwight Yoakam took the country music world by storm introducing an unexpected resurgence of Buck Owens' "Bakersfield sound" to an ailing industry which had begun to sound more like rock than country. One of the first songs which would catapult the movement still sustained today was Guitars, Cadillacs.

Yoakam's sound is unique because it deploys traditional country instruments to create a melody reminiscent of country music's roots in the bars and dance halls of West Texas- long before it became a multimillion-dollar industry wrought by the kitsch of Nashville.

Yoakam's voice in the song, specifically, takes listeners back to the dusty days of a burgeoning California and the trials of those who seek western opportunity and fail. Like most of his songs, Guitars, Cadillacs is a love story, but one written for the blue-collar man. Rather than embracing defeat, the singer ruminates with amusement on his situation finding comfort in, you guessed it, guitars, Cadillacs and hillbilly music.

In all, it's a fun song and a great trip down memory lane. The musicianship is spot on and Yoakam's voice never sounded better. Lyrics follow after the jump. The music video is posted below. Enjoy!



Guitars, Cadillacs

Girl, you taught me how to hurt real bad
And cry myself to sleep
And showed me how this town can shatter dreams
Another lesson 'bout a naive fool
Who came to Babylon
And found out that the pie
Don't taste so sweet

Now it's guitars, cadillacs, hillbilly music
Lonely, lonely streets that I call home
Yea, my guitars, cadillacs, hillbilly music
It's the only thing that keep me hangin' on

Ain't no glamour in this tinsle land
Of lost and wasted lives
Painful scars are all that's left of me
I wanna thank-you girl for teachin' me
Brand new ways to be cruel
Like findin' mine now I guess I'll just leave

And it's guitars, cadillacs, hillbilly music
Lonely, lonely streets that I call home
Yea, my guitars, cadillacs, hillbilly music
It's the only thing that keep me hangin' on

Oh it's guitars, cadillacs, hillbilly music
Lonely, lonely streets that I call home
Yea, my guitars, cadillacs, hillbilly music
It's The only thing that keep me hangin' on

It's the only thing that keep me hangin' on

It's the only thing that keep me hangin' on

Papal Economics

According to the New York Times, my hitherto favorite Pope, B16 (Benedict XVI), recently denounced both Marxism and Capitalism as detaching reality from God.

[Link]

Quite naturally, I would take issue with the Bishop of Rome- though I'm not quite sure how he concludes both systems detach reality from God. It seems to me that Capitalism promises little more than the opportunity to compete in the economy while leaving questions of God's reality open for discussion. Whereas Marxism is rightly faulted for denying God's existence in its premise.

At any rate, it's also unclear to me what the Pope would prefer. I realize the Catholic Church can be behind the times, but surely he isn't advocating a return to Feudalism...

Self-Acceptance in the NYT

I am typically inclined to write off as tripe anything the New York Times has to say about self-esteem issues. I have long considered such stories the vegan equivalent of red-meat for an ultra-PC left.

Nevertheless, today's article about people with disabilities struck a chord that has taken the majority of my time in Boston to learn. According to the NYT, the disabled are now less inclined to try and 'overcome' their respective infirmities and more inclined to just 'be'. One expert writes:

"More people are saying, 'This is who I am. If you have a problem with it, that’s your problem'."

[Link]

There's more to the article than this but the above quote is a pithy line which captures its essence. As you can see, it is a fine message for people to process in general.

In our age of cultural superficiality, Americans would do well to take comfort in simply being. Ours is a society which sets no limitations on what we can do. Rightly so. But there is a delicate balance between achievement and unrealistically trying to alter one's essence as a person. Truth be told, we've all been guilty of the above at one point or another. Still, when the matter involves our identity as individuals we cannot alter who we are any more than the disabled can generate new limbs.

What we can do is take a lesson from their courage and exist, just as we are, damn all those who would take issue. Or as Dr. Seuss more delicately put it, Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

I should hasten to add, however, this does not mean people are rigid, monolithic and unable to change. The beauty of the Human Spirit is that we possess an incredible capacity for adaptation. There are, perhaps, a good many things we ought to change about our lives. Yet when it comes to the core of our identity, therein lies a host of things best left undisturbed.

I suppose this is all a bit fanciful. I would prefer to blame it on my afternoon spent reading Yeats (I obviously received a bit too much sun sitting along the banks of the Charles). However, if I am honest, the point has many broader social implications as well. This may seem tangential but if we ascribe any value to Rand's objectivism, the related point worth redeeming is that we have every incentive to assert our identity and seek our rational, self-interest. The end result is that we all have the right to etch out our own existence and to seek our own happiness. The need to deny who we are is never an issue.

There are, of course, no guarantees in outcome though we are guaranteed some outcome by virtue of our right to compete. Ultimately, the ethic of such a system of self-worth is that our success is determined by our personal effort and never by the foolish caprice of another.

NRCC Chairman, Tom Cole on Winning Back the GOP Majority

The Washington Post had an interesting article on the GOP's chances of winning back the House Majority in 2008- one which largely featured the prowess of my Congressman Tom Cole from Oklahoma's 4th District.  

Despite the President's flagging poll numbers, a GOP majority in 2008 is not beyond the realm of possibility.  Given the number of close races in 2006, Congressman Cole described the key to victory as one of picking off low hanging fruit:

"We don't need to conquer new territory to win back the majority," says new NRCC Chairman Tom Cole. "We need to reclaim lost territory, which is easier."

[Link]

Naturally, I wish him all the best.  It would be nice to see an Oklahoman as the architect of a GOP Congressional majority.  

Picking the Right Ethicist

Perhaps this sheds some insight into my mentality of late, but the Dilbert cartoon below was downright hilarious when I read it earlier this afternoon.

Accord to Dilbert's Scott Adams life is all about picking the right ethicist.

Al Sharpton Bashes Romney and Mormons

In case you've missed it, only weeks after leading the ouster of political shock-jock Don Imus for insensitivity, the Rev. Al Sharpton has become embroiled in a sensitivity conflict of his own.

At an NYC debate with Christopher Hitchens, Sharpton remarked of public servants and belief,

"As for the one Mormon running for office, those that really believe in God will defeat him anyway, so don't worry about that. That's a temporary situation."

[Link]

I get the hypocrisy of his remarks. Al Sharpton's mission for social justice and tolerance doesn't really extend to anyone outside the black community. Accordingly, it's only natural that someone of his mentality would have utter disregard for the religious views of others.

What is unfortunate, however, is the reaction from the media and the press whose interest in Sharpton's overt bigotry hovers somewhere around their interest in reporting good news from Iraq. Had it been a conservative or controversial personality to make the comment, the story would have morphed into a political storm and Jesse Jackson would be leading boycotts outside the building.

Not the case here. Because Romney is a conservative Republican and a white male, the press gives Sharpton a pass to say what he will- no matter how ignorant or religiously discriminatory it may be.

Thus we see liberal social justice in action (inaction?).

Obama Flaming Out

Alex Beam (another good liberal mind you) over at the Boston Globe seems to have numbered the days of Sen. Barack Hussein Obama's flailing presidential bid.

Beam remarks:

"But frankly, the people who've ponied up $4,600 for Obama in this election cycle might as well have piled the money on the kitchen table and set fire to it."

[Link]

I couldn't have said it better myself. A more interesting question, perhaps, is what prompts the criticism? The answer is two fold: diminishing poll numbers and gaffes like these.

Sen. Obama may be at times articulate but it's clear even to Democrats that he lacks the maturity to lead the Nation.

Song of the Week: All at Sea

On this balmy, spring day, the Pax Plena song of the week comes to you direct from the memories of lazy college afternoons past courtesy of Jazz up-and-comer Jamie Cullum and his 2003 hit, All at Sea.

One remarkable aspect of Cullum's music is its inexplicable performance style. With Cullum, every song is its own boisterous entity and All at Sea is no exception. In general, the soft melody takes listeners to a personal reprieve away from circumstance, obligation and superficiality but its erratic denouement calls from beyond the smooth drink of isolation and invites (almost challenges) unnamed company to enjoy the nothing.

Cullum's voice is unquestionably gifted. It melds a bit of John Mayer with Frank Sinatra to create a unique sound that is hard to define. His piano abilities are commendable as well- a quick watch of the video indicates as much. While All at Sea is among the more mellow numbers in Cullum's set, it succeeds in its own right due to his ability to take the melody in unanticipated lyrical directions. Not a bad artistic accomplishment for such a fresh voice. Lyrics follow after the jump. Enjoy!


All at Sea

I’m all at sea
Where no one can bother me
Forgot my roots
If only for a day
Just me and my thoughts
Sailing far away

Like a warm drink it seeps into my soul
Please just leave me right here on my own
Later on you could spend some time with me
If you want to, all at sea

I’m all at sea
Where no-one can bother me
I sleep by myself
I drink on my own
I don’t speak to nobody
I gave away my phone

Like a warm drink it seeps into my soul
Please just leave me right here on my own
Later on you could spend some time with me
If you want to, all at sea

Now I need you more than ever
I need you more than ever now

If you don’t need it every day
But sometimes don’t you just crave
To disappear within your mind
You never know what you might find
So come and spend some time with me
And we will spend it all at sea

Like a warm drink it seeps into my soul
Please just leave me right here on my own
Later on you could spend some time with me
If you want to, all at sea

Ooooh
If you want to, all at sea
If you want to

Happy Cinco de Mayo

In the interest of equal/celebratory opportunity, we here at Pax Plena extend our warm wishes to all for a happy Cinco de Mayo.

The actual holiday itself has always remains a bit of an enigma to yours truly- much like St. Patrick's Day was earlier in the year. Being neither Mexican nor Irish, however, I certainly don't mind joining the gaggle of others in celebrating a culture which is not my own (Coronas with lime always hit the spot). After all, everyone celebrates the Native American holiday more commonly called Thanksgiving. Live and let live.

Anyway, contrary to popular opinion, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence day. That doesn't arrive until September 15th. May 5th, actually marks the Mexican defeat of French and allied forces during the Battle of Puebla in the early morning hours of May 5th, 1862. Interestingly, the holiday is said to be only scantly observed in Mexico although the region containing Puebla observes the day with vigor.

Ultimately, this background information is quite ancillary. Ray Ellis over at Blog Critics had the best assessment of the day:

"If everybody's Irish on St. Patrick's Day, then everybody's Mexican on Cinco de Mayo. Coronas stand in for Guinness, we all become experts on Mexican cuisine, and we all find another excuse to get soused."

[Link]

Touché. Besides, one can never celebrate a French loss too often.

Huckabee Shines at GOP Debate

For those with Times Select access, the New York Times blog Opinionator dubbed former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee star of the evening after last night's GOP Presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA.

[Link]

National Review contributor and Dartmouth trustee Peter Robinson called Huckabee, "relaxed and funny... also articulate and determined." The NRO's John Podhoretz called him simply "terrific," while Jim Geraghty called him "polished, professional...reassuring." Dick Morris called Huckabee "the most original and interesting of the candidates."

From the pundits at least, thumbs up for Huckabee all the way around.

In the interest of full disclosure, yours truly has been a bit out of the loop. Instead of watching the GOP debate, I was down at Fenway watching Manny Ramirez save the Sox in the bottom of the 8th. Good times.

But I hope the links above offer a broad perspective on Huckabee's performance my absence notwithstanding.

VA Gets the Royal Treatment

Official Washington and the State of Virginia are astir today as Britain's Queen Elizabeth II makes her way across the pond to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown. The Queen's entourage will include some 35 attendants a host of reporters and two hairdressers.

Accordingly, a much amused Washington Post reporter chronicles in today's paper the scores of flummoxed advance teams as they attempt to meld American circumstance with British pomp.

[Link]

Rumor has it that VA Senator Jim Webb and NY Senator Hillary Clinton were both disinvited to the festivities. British Royal etiquette is apparently ill prepared to handle armed aides and faux accents.

The Difference Between Israel and America

In my perusal of today's headlines, a dramatic contrast between the United States and Israel came to mind.

Both heads of state are under fire for their leadership in their respective wars.

But the chief difference between Israel and the U.S. is that Israelis criticize their Prime Minister for going to war and quitting, while Americans criticize the President for going to war and trying to win.

Venezuela on the Brink

Today's headline reads like a chapter from Atlas Shrugged. A Socialist government putting in place economic policies which stifle productivity. The credo From each according to his ability, to each according to his need beginning a swift race to the bottom. Companies afraid to do business but loathe to leave. Poor citizens rallying for a classless society which will never exist. It also hearkens to a not so long bygone era when socialist policies seemed a viable alternative to capitalism.

Unfortunately, truth is often stranger than fiction and in this case the fiction of Rand is actually spot on with recent events in Venezuela.

A quick check of the news wires indicates that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced the state take over of operational control from some of the world's biggest oil companies which were developing the promising crude reserves of the Latin American country.

Damning capitalism and American imperialism, Chavez decried the violation of workers rights his policies helped to create; blaming instead the United States for its greed and arrogance. American companies Conoco-Phillips, Chevron, and Exxon Mobil were hardest hit in the seizure.

[Link]

In so many ways, Chavez's Socialist renewal represents the basest actions of the human spirit. Rather than empowering Venezuelans with every requisite freedom to build their nascent economy, Chavez has opted to play the role of victim-thief, stealing the ingenuity of foreign corporations for 'communal' gain- a gain guaranteed only to make everyone equally poor and an elite group fabulously wealthy.

Mr. Chavez's motivations are not difficult to understand.

The sticking point for the companies is that Chavez needs their expertise to continue the projects despite the fact that he intends to steal the majority of their profits. In turn, should the companies decide to pull out of Venezuela Chavez's government will be left with little more than an investment starved wasteland that was once a potentially profitable crude market.

But any decision to leave will not be easy. Most of the oil companies in question have already invested some $17 Billion dollars in the Orinoco River region. Leaving would be tantamount to forsaking still lucrative profit margins even if the Socialist regime opts to rob them openly.