The Crows Nest
Crow's Nest Mostly Unmanned
Yes, I know the Crow's Nest has mostly been moribund since the site's relaunch. I do plan on using it more often in the future, I promise. I'll be spending a little more time on these posts as a way to link out to the blogosphere. Keep an eye on this space.
Also, please note that I've put the Amazon search bar on the main page, in the right sidebar. If you want to do some shopping at Amazon -- and who doesn't? -- be sure to shop through Captain's Quarters. Amazon does pay a small percentage of the sale to me, and it helps pay for a few sundries related to the blog. Much appreciated!
OpenCongress Web Widget
Ever wanted to announce your support or opposition to Congressional legislation? OpenCongress now has a web widget that allows bloggers to do exactly that. Take a look at this, and check out how easily you can build your own.
Maybe They're Flotation Devices?
The Australian Navy foots the bill for breast augmentations. The Labour Party would like to know why, and probably so would most of the voters in Australia.
The Thinking Blogger
Congrats to Fausta, who won a Thinking Blogger award. She thanks me for my friendship, but the truth is that Fausta makes it easy to be her friend. She's always positive and energetic, and she epitomizes the notion of a thinking blogger. Make sure to put her on your must-read list!
Ensign Calls For Return Of MoveOn Money
NRSC chair Senator John Ensign calls for Democrats to return all campaign funds donated by MoveOn, after their despicable New York Times ad today accusing David Petraeus of treason. "If Senate Democrats are serious about moving our country forward, they will denounce this outrageous ad and return the campaign funds MoveOn.org has lavished on them as well as the donations made through MoveOn.org -- the choice is theirs." Ensign's right, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the refund ...
Support The Al-Dura Petition
Roger Simon at Pajamas Media is circulating a petition to demand accountability for the discredited al-Dura report from France's Channel 2. This is, as Roger calls it, the "Father of all Fauxtography," and C-2 has never acknowledged its fault in airing the supposed murder of a Palestinian child. He wants C-2 to show all of the unedited footage of the incident in order to show that C-2 faked the murder. If they're resisting the demand, I'd say they have something to hide ....
There Goes The Undefeated Season
Notre Dame managed to get its first loss out of the way as soon as possible -- and as badly as possible. Georgia Tech came to South Bend and stomped the Irish, 33-3, in the worst home opener loss in school history. The offense fumbled twice and allowed seven sacks on Evan Sharpley, who must have longed to have Brady Quinn back on the field instead. If Charlie Weis doesn't turn this debacle around fast, he may want to start asking Ty Willingham for some career counseling ....
Would Early Primaries Allow More Donations?
Jim Geraghty at The Campaign Spot believes that candidates will benefit if primaries and caucuses get pushed into 2007. A loophole in campaign finance regulation appears to allow an extra $2,300 per donor for candidates if those elections are held this year. Be sure to check out Jim's analysis, and the surprising candidate that may benefit the most.
When Tom Met Jeralyn
One of the interesting aspects of politics is finding out that opponents are people, too. Jeralyn Merritt of TalkLeft met Rep. Tom Tancredo backstage at NBC's studios, and found him more likable than she had anticipated. Perhaps it was their mutual interest in Dog, The Bounty Hunter ...
Joe Lieberman A Right-Wing Nut?
That's what CAIR says, according to Joe Kaufman. He has a link to a CAIR official's blog post that calls Lieberman, along with John Bolton, former CIA director James Woolsey, and the Heritage Foundation's Peter Brookes as "extremists". Affad Shaikh also calls Dick Cheney a "fat bastard of a liar," apparently not meant as a pop-culture reference to the Austin Powers movies. (via Let Freedom Ring)
Broadband Homelessness
The Japanese have made homelessness more efficient, and more Net-friendly, too. Their Internet cafés have become homeless shelters for the struggling manual-labor sector. The problem has grown into such a problem that government intervention will shortly become a political priority.
Found My Law Firm
Power Line links twice to this story regarding an attorney at Faegre & Benson who refused to become a victim and helped capture a very dangerous man. Keith Radtke is a partner in the firm as is Power Line's John Hinderaker. Radtke is listed in satisfactory condition after getting shot in the back, but that didn't keep him from locking up his attacker in a wrestling grip until police could arrive. I don't know about you, but that's the kind of man I'd want as my counsel ....
Don't Click That YouTube E-mail
The latest in spam seems to be redirections from YouTube links in e-mail to IP addresses without domain names. They attempt to entice people by making it seem that they have been inadvertently YouTubed. I'm sure most people can see through this scam, but just in case, you've been warned ....
Rick Moran Escapes The Floods
Rick Moran has kept us up to date on his travails along the Algonquin River. Yesterday, the police showed up to get him evacuated before the river flooded his home -- but today, Rick finds that a minor miracle has taken place, and that his house survives ... at least for now. Keep Rick in your prayers, and keep checking in at Right Wing Nut House for updates.
Rule 1: Drag The Corpse On Over First
If I've learned anything in four years of blogging, don't try to be out in front of the death rumors, especially with the villains of the world. Saddam died a hundred deaths before we caught him alive in his spider hole, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi almost as many before his demise last year. Osama may or may not be alive, but everyone's avoided speculating on his fate for a while now. Maybe Val at Babalu Blog will get luckier with his "Castro Is Dead" story. We all hope so. I'll wait for the announcement ....
Comments (14)
Posted by I R A Darth Aggie | October 18, 2007 8:40 AM
How many "Robert C. Byrd (insert building/highway/bridge)" items exist? Rep. Rangel may be audacious, but he is playing catchup.
Posted by NoDonkey | October 18, 2007 8:43 AM
How about the Charles B. Rangel Memorial Outhouse and Stinkpit?
That's a project worthy of the name "Rangel". When one thinks of places to deposit human waste and other stinky refuse, one thinks "Rangel".
This is an effort both sides of the aisle should be able to back.
Posted by obladioblada | October 18, 2007 8:52 AM
Byrd has at least 30 public works projects named after him in WVA. Just driving through the state is nauseating.
http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_byrddroppings
Posted by John Wilson | October 18, 2007 8:59 AM
Rangel's real issue is that he wants to raise taxes in a ginormous way. I'm smelling a little "Get Whitey" in it and I hope he can be derailed in all of his dreams.
Posted by rbj | October 18, 2007 10:10 AM
I'd be in favor of a rule that you have to be dead for ten years before you get anything named after you. Not gonna hold my breath on that one though.
Posted by quickjustice | October 18, 2007 10:14 AM
As a New Yorker, I can tell you that Charlie Rangel is mostly remembered here in NYC as an accessory after the fact to the 1972 murder of police officer Philip Cardillo at a Nation of Islam mosque in Harlem. From Fred Siegel's "The Prince of the City": Together with Louis Farrakhan, Rangel "used the threat of riot to force the police to back off and release the prisoners who had been taken into custody for Cardillo's murder".
He also is remembered for creating and operating the "Harlem Machine" (Harlem Urban Development Corporation) by controlling the antipoverty funds coming into Harlem. From Fred Siegel at 197: "Over time, " explains veteran nonprofit investor Kathryn Wylde, "The government displaced the private sector [in Harlem] and destroyed any semblance of a free market economy."
Finally, Rangel is known for a "high profile scandal in which Rangel and his cronies had mismanaged Harlem's famed Apollo Theater into near bankruptcy." Siegel at 232.
Compared to Rangel's earlier scams, this is small change.
Posted by NoDonkey | October 18, 2007 10:23 AM
"I'd be in favor of a rule that you have to be dead for ten years before you get anything named after you."
So how would this disqualify the Byrd monuments?
And it seems the monuments to Harry Reid have been delayed for a decade. Those Nevadians better get on the ball.
Posted by Jazz | October 18, 2007 10:48 AM
Well, your timing certainly stinks. Now you tell us. Between all the money I sank into Enron stock this summer and, now, my donations to the Charles Rangel Institute for the Advancement of Charles Rangel, the wife is going to skin me alive.
Posted by Howard Hirsch | October 18, 2007 11:29 AM
Figures there would be a Charles Rangel Library at CCNY. My alma mater has so soiled itself over the years that one more insult won't really make a difference. I try to avoid telling anyone I went there as an undergrad and focus on my grad school experience instead.
Posted by Angry Dumbo | October 18, 2007 12:36 PM
Great article by David Freddoso in NRO.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OTVjMTJkMmE4NjEzYmU0NTE3NGE5MjM1ZTFiNGE3MmE=
He contends that Republicans should show the discipline to force the retirement of ethically challenged incumbents and make way for new, more viable candidates. Specifically, the names Reps. Don Young (R., Alaska) and John Doolittle (R., Calif.) are front and foremost. I would add Sen. Ted Stevens to the list because it is time to retire the strongest supporter of the "Bridge to Nowhere" and his tacky Incredible Hulk tie.
There are few defenders of the likes of Young, Doolittle or Stevens, so why not send them home with a set of new golf clubs and a kick in the rear?
Posted by FedUp | October 18, 2007 12:48 PM
Did anyone tell Nancy about this? I'm sure she'd be anxious to correct this travesty under the new 'transparency' regime or 'reducing earmarks' program. Geez! Make a rule that in order to have something named after you, you have to be buried in the foundation!
Posted by Sharpshooter | October 18, 2007 5:54 PM
Re: Quickjustice's post and adding Ray Nagin to the equation:
I find it amusing that his constituents and their ilk remain mired in poverty and crime and just can't fathom WHY.
No wonder so much of Harlem and the parts of Africa that they still run is a world class s&$@hole.
Rascist? No. There are too many exceptions. Culture? Yes, that vacuum between their ears.
Posted by Ray in Mpls | October 18, 2007 7:18 PM
Has anyone noticed the irony here? The same people who want to spend millions of dollars trying to get more minorities into politics will also spend millions, and even tens of millions, more trying to prevent those newcomers from unseating them in an election.
Posted by Googootz | October 19, 2007 6:54 AM
Perhaps the savings from scrapping those earmarks could go toward funding for the expanded SCHIP.