The Anchoress

Nosing around the news and blogs, in no particular order…

President Bush conducted an orchestra playing Stars and Stripes Forever. I’m sure we will see no videotape on this, however. Apparently he didn’t suck at it. If it’s not making the president look bad, it’s not allowed to be seen. Even a big hit on AlQaeda barely makes the headlines.

The Surge in Iraq is starting to take hold. Imagine being a Democrat and being against that.

“Americans should not have to fear legal harassment for participating in the nation’s security.” Damn straight. Read it all.

Obama says the world will sigh in relief when President Bush leaves office. The terrorist world will, for sure. Iran and Venezuela will. Russia and China might. Spain? A toss up! I’m not certain that England, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, Africa, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, The Philippines, Fiji, Togo, Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Ukraine, Poland, Norway or lots of other countries will be breathing a sigh of relief. Actually…I think a lot of them will start holding their breaths.

Meanwhile, Al Qaeda tells the Democrats “we’re with ya, fellas! We want you out of Iraq, too!” God bless and keep our missing troops and those who seek them. Gateway Pundit is remembering when Pelosi said, Al Qaeda in Iraq? Gedouddaheah!

Alexander Cockburn of all people - as credible a leftist as one can be - takes the paddle to Gore and his minions

More warnings on biofuels: here. I agree with Glenn Reynolds that going off half-cocked on biofuels before we can understand their overall impact - not only on the environment but on the economy would not be wise. I also agree with Glenn that folks who are sincere about all of this might consider actually acknowledging and supportingPresident Bush’s varied and and mostly unreported environmental efforts. Grown ups should be able to allow that small praise.

Ann Althouse wonders why other conservation ideas go unexpressed.

A Universal Health Care Implosion: Blue Crab says the Illinois Democrats realized - just in time, on this one issue, at least - that socialism does not work. The measure was defeated 107-0. Some of us have been saying for a while that the thing doesn’t work.

Egad, Comes the Newt: He says he thinks he’s in the running, maybe. I can’t wait to read all the super-conservatives who routinely write to me about Rudy Giuliani’s “disgraceful private life” come out in support of Newt, for whom they pine. I can’t stand the guy. Yes, he’s smart, but he’s also kind of ooghy. I get the same feeling when I look at him that I get when I look at Bill Clinton these days. It’s not a good feeling.

Don Surber has a list that he promises will continue to grow. I think every campaign dirtdigger should be named so each campaign knows what it’s up against.

Gas prices hit record highs but niether party has much to say about it. There’s kind of a deafening silence, all around, on the subject.

Bizzyblog remembers an anniversary.

Dammit you people aren’t listening to our shows, so you can’t listen to their’s either!.

A horrible, horrible story*** that didn’t make the news back in January because it apparently made the “mediating intelligences” uncomfortable, or something. I recall a while back columnist Jeff Jacoby writing about another horrible story that didn’t make the news. I recall than when I read Jacoby’s column ‘way back when, I asked a local newspaper editor why the story hadn’t been widely seen. He said, “local interest story; not a national interest one.” Oh. This story, too, was another very horrible but “local news” sort of story. Made the NY Times, though. As well it should have. Funny how some stories do make the NY Times but others don’t. [***See Classical Values' sensible admonishment that the more elaborate and as-yet-unconfirmed accounts on that story are best left unmentioned until confirmation is available.]

Another crappy movie: Among the dozens of crappy movies I’m already planning to not-see, Ed Driscoll points to one in particular. Honestly, except for the Harry Potter flick and maybe, maybe the third Capt. Jack Sparrow movie (c’mon, is there any reason to go except for Johnny Depp?), I can’t think of a single movie I want to see this summer.

Gerald is raving about the pope’s new book. Hopefully I’ll get my copy soon.

Related: Civic Immaturity is the New Sophistication

WELCOME: Instapundit readers and thanks, Glenn, for the ‘lanche. While you’re here, please look around. We’re also having a rather spirited discussion on War Bonds, Bill Clinton’s seriously laudable legacy, the failures of Katie Couric and how it’s all your fault, how the press has already developed a spanking case of BDS-by-proxy over Sarkozy, and why “Class” is more important than “Class wars.” We’re also wondering - but still a little fuzzy - about things like name-calling and all that purgatory jazz.