Prologue: The Problem President Obama and European leaders called Thursday for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resign, after months of his violent crackdown on protesters. The rhetorical escalation was backed by new U.S. sanctions designed to undermine Assad’s ability to finance his military operation. “The future of Syria must be determined by its people, but … Continue reading Mission creep, an illusion in three parts

Look, Campbell Brown shouldn't have her views on education reform attacked because of her looks, and people who think that she should somehow be prevented from sharing her opinion because of who her husband is or what political party she belongs to are wrong. But when she's the point person for a "reform" movement that … Continue reading When ad hominem isn’t a fallacy

How about when nobody has actually ceased firing? Shelling has killed six people and wounded 15 others in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, the city council said, the worst reported violence since a ceasefire between Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian troops began on September 5. Fighting around the eastern city's government-held airport has left its northern … Continue reading When is a ceasefire not a ceasefire?

I took an elevator today. Big news, I know, but bear with me. I got in the elevator, and since there wasn't anybody else around, I hit the "close door" button without thinking really thinking about it, just to get the elevator moving. The door closed, but no faster than it would have if I … Continue reading Apparently there’s such a thing as a “placebo button”

Why is it that when large organizations like sports teams are in a position where they have to "allow the judicial process to move forward," they always seem to allow it to move forward in the most advantageous possible way for the organization? I mean, look, the judicial process could move forward just as effectively … Continue reading Something I was just wondering

Submitted as evidence, incumbent Florida Congressman Steve Southerland: Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla.) was criticized last week for hosting a male-only fundraiser in March, with his opponent Gwen Graham's campaign calling the event "offensive." But Southerland laughed off the criticism to the Tampa Bay Times on Friday, comparing the event to a "lingerie party." "I live … Continue reading Florida (Congress)Man possibly not aware of passage of Nineteenth Amendment

Why I decided to write this is beyond me, but if you're interested (and why you would be is also beyond me, but whatever), please enjoy.

Yesterday it was back to the "liberals are the real sexists" routine for Fox's in-house liberal caricature: A segment on Fox News’ The Five Thursday about White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest went off the rails very quickly as co-host Bob Beckel remarked that looks matter when you job involves being on television. He drove … Continue reading The Bob Beckel Clown Show continues

One part of President Obama's address that seems to have stuck in some craws is the bit where he compared "The Islamic State" to "The Holy Roman Empire": Now let's make two things clear: ISIL is not "Islamic." No religion condones the killing of innocents, and the vast majority of ISIL's victims have been Muslim. … Continue reading Is the Islamic State “Islamic”? Why does it matter?

Today being what it is, I'm likely going to pack it in after this post and turn off all the noise for a while. But here are a couple of other things to keep in mind (apart from the reaction I had last night) as the Obama administration's plan for taking on the Islamic State … Continue reading A couple more important points on last night’s speech