Arguments Yard

Okay, so a few years ago, Alan Dershowitz controversially argued in favor of "torture warrants", and defended scenarios in which torture might be defensible - one of which was the case of a suspect knowing information about a planned bombing, and the use of torture to prevent it.

So today British police have arrested one of the suspects in the second London bombing. The police will presume this guy has information leading to the longer trail of peoplpe behind the bombings; but moreover, since we've seen two bombings already, they may well presume more could be in the works.

I don't think there'll be any use of torture, but I think it's the closest we've seen so far (publicly) to the case put forth by Dershowitz. There's not a known imminent attack, but there's the serious possibility.

reminds me of the classic Simpson's moment:

KENT BROCKMAN: "and in environmental news, scientists have announced that Springfield's air is now only dangerous to children and the elderly."

HOMER: Whoo Hoo!

"Howard Dean and Ken Mehlman will both speak at the 29th Biennial Convention of the Connectional Lay Organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church's Political Agenda Forum in Houston, Texas. Both will speak separately during the 3:30-5 p.m. session."

Hopefully C-SPAN will cover Dean's presentation. When he lectures on religion, giggles are sure to follow!

who would want to see topless photos of Cameron Diaz, anyway?

Does anyone else remember when labor unions directed their wrath at management? I believe it was called a "strike." Do those happen anymore?

These days, they're going after themselves. In fact, the only way labor unions can get headlines is by shooting at themselves. Like most left-wing monuments (think Ted Kennedy) big labor is a swiftly disappearing relic of a forgotten past.

"You know you've arrived when the Washington Post Style section mocks your wife's outfit and your children's clothing.

I know the Left can't find much on John Roberts, but can't they do better than that?"

Well, Sen. Pat Leahy is going to try. He's going to sit under an apple tree and hope, like Newton, that inspiration drops on his head.

But I wouldn't bet on it. It says here Roberts cruises to the nomination. Although the Dems will stretch this out as long as possible, so he probably won't be approved until September.

is end the wall-to-wall coverage of today's London bombings.

Sadly, the terrorists can do this any time they want. As long as we treat a few minor blasts as BIG BREAKING NEWS, they'll be tempted to launch other attacks.

Again, these sort of attacks prove their weakness, not their strength. Attention media: Note that terrorists attempted an attack, that they failed, and get back to telling us about Brad and Jen and Angelina and Vince and whomever else.

I am back now from a three week vacation, during which I was in the UK for Live 8, was in Leeds while terrorists were apparently planning to bomb London, was 10 miles or so from the G8, watched as London got awarded the Olympics for 2012, and looked on in shock at the carnage that came the next day.

I have many thoughts on all this, but instead I'll give the lighthearted note from the trip for now. Not sure if it was news over here at all, but a few days before the Olympics were awarded to London for 2012, a french newspaper broke a story that Jacques Chirac had attacked the British on the basis of their cooking, specifically attacking haggis:

Well, as it turns out, Chirac was probably talking about an EU (or european Parliament, i forget which) dinner, some months ago, when the Scottish delegation provided haggis for dinner. My dad, a butcher in Dunblane, prepared that very haggis. So, my dad's haggis helped provoke a minor diplomatic incident, and ticked off Jacques Chirac. Quite a worthy accomplishment!

don't tell anyone, but Social Security reform will pass this year.

What, you say? Nobody's talking about it? That's why it'll pass.

While the Senate tears itself apart over the Supreme Court (is there anyone whom Chuck Schumer isn't going to think is "Out of the mainstream"?) a reform bill will sneak through.

Don't tell anyone. But remember that I told you. Thanks.

Here's a prediction:

This little Rove dust-up will eventually amount to: Nothing.

In fact, within a few months we'll have forgotten all about it, just as we've forgotten about apparently damning stories like this one.

There was nothing to the "missing" weapons President Bush had supposedly allowed to be stolen, and there's nothing to the idea that Karl Rove was dialing reporters, eager to blow the cover of a CIA operative.

What's astounding is the rebirth of Amb. Joe Wilson. Last year, after a Senate investigation showed he'd lied, I expected him to quietly go away. No such luck. Reporters seem to think he's regained some credibility. No wonder they're losing theirs...

or at least there will be when next year's law school class graduates.

But, apparently, there is only one person qualified to sit on the Supreme Court: Sandra Day O'Connor. At least that's the conclusion one would draw reading this letter.

This is simply silly. There are plenty of qualified CONSERVATIVE judges out there. President Bush should nominate one of them. And let the nomination battle begin.

...you start to wonder if Larry King has hit rock bottom.
Then, he books Jessica Hahn.
He's found a floor below "sub-basement!"

that we're not spending enough to protect ourselves against attack. As if throwing more money at terrorism can prevent it.

Actually, there's more than enough money sloshing around. For example, "A published report said of $600 million allocated in 2002 by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for security enhancement, only $30 million has been spent," as the NY Daily News reported.

The problem is spending the money effectively.

Again, let's take a breath and make sure we're being effective before we write any more checks.

...please.
Sen. Kerry wants Karl Rove fired over an allegation about a leak.
Rove may or may not have done anything wrong here. Doesn't it make sense to allow the investigation to move forward, instead of firing somebody based on a leak about a leak?

who doesn't wear a pink dress shirt?

Maybe pink is standard attire on Fleet Street.

to good news.

Rumour has it that Sandra Day O'Connor will resign. Let the partisan battle over her successor begin!