Sore Loserman

So, the netroots got itself a premier scalp tonight when Joe Lieberman conceded to primary challenger Ned Lamont. Lieberman has already vowed to run as an Independent, and that will surely cause havok this fall during the mid-terms. The New Republic must feel especially blue tonight. The magazine was especially hawkish on the war in Iraq (though a few of its writers, Peter Beinart among them, have at least admitted they were wrong on that score) and it has also been unwavering in its defense of Joe Lieberman. TNR has pulled no punches in attacking progressive bloggers who have backed Lamont in his primary challenge. To that end, New Republic editor Marty Peretz offered up this utterly ridiculous post-mortem on Liberman’s loss. He even manages to somehow blame Bill Clinton for Joe’s loss! Occam’s Razor generally states the the simplest explanation is the correct one. Couldn’t Joe’s loss be easily be attributed to his fealty to George Bush and his staunch support of an unpopular war? Nah, that couldn’t be it at all.

Recent items of note

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, head of al-Queda in Iraq, was killed by an American airstrike on Wednesday.

The Senate this week rejected an effort to abolish the estate tax. The Senate also rejected an effort to ban gay marriage via a constitutional amendment.

Mental Midget of the Day

HUD Sec. Alphonso Jackson.

Really, who's stupid enough to admit that they denied a contract based on politics?

Speaking “truthiness” to power

Stephen Colbert of "The Colbert Show" enters the hornet's nest at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and stings everyone in sight. Truly must see tv.

A cartoon the reflects the times

Propaganda indeed.

Light posting recently

Work and a wedding have slowed my posting, but I’m hoping to get back into a groove soon.

In the meantime, here are the big stories of the day:

George W. Bush…Leaker In Chief?

Today, hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest new immigration policies.

Is the U.S. planning a nuclear strike on Iran? In this week’s New Yorker, Seymour Hersh presents evidence that President Bush is considering the option.

The future Tom Cruise inhabits just called…

and it got Texas on line one.

Texas authorities are have started to arrest people for being drunk…in a bar. It seems Texas cops are indulging in a bit of psychic forecasting, arresting people because they MIGHT do something illegal.  Because you can’t make this kind of thing up, here’s a Texas official on this situation:

“Going to a bar is not an opportunity to go get drunk,” TABC Capt. David Alexander said. “It’s to have a good time but not to get drunk.”

I don’t think there’s anything else I can add.

“We’ll be fully prepared…”

They were told it would happen…and they still didn’t do enough. Damning video obtained by the Associated Press that shows that the White House was well aware of the level of destruction that Katrina could bring. There was time to prevent this from happening…

Once again…”heckuva job.”

Weekend news round up

The Dubai company that was going to be allowed to purchase six U.S. ports has asked for a 45 day review of the deal. Bipartisan outrage has caused the Bush administration to stall on the sale of the ports.

Sectarian violence continues to flare in Iraq in the wake of the bombing of the Golden Mosque on February 22.

2/22 News Round Up

A group of men dressed as Iraqi police officers blew up the “Golden Mosque” in Samarra. No group has yet to claim responsibility for the bombing, but al Qaeda in Iraq is a prime suspect. After the bombing, another series of attacks broke out across the country. 27 mosques were hit and several imams were either killed or kidnapped.

The South Dakota Senate passed the nation’s most restrictive abortion law today by a vote of 23 to 12. Under the new law (which will pass pending reconciliation of the bill by the House), the only legal abortions allowed in the state of South Dakota will be those performed to save the life of the mother. The bill actually sought to charge doctors who performed abortions with a felony, but the law was written to prevent charges from being brought against doctors who perform the procedure while trying to save the life of the mother.