Okay, so I'm a UConn fan, and I'm upset today. The tournament was shaping up as Connecticut's to win, if only they could play just a little defense for five minutes. But no, it was not to be for the Huskies. George Mason played a flawless overtime after a nearly flawless second half and came away with 2 point victory. I guess now I'll root for the Patriots - I do during football season, so that won't be much of a departure.
While I've been immersed in basketball - and with my schedule and current demands I can really only be immersed in one thing at a time (in addition to my family and my work) - the world has continued to turn, so this is a look around with brief commentary on some of the notable goings on and posts I've encountered as I emerge from my roundball-induced coma.
- While this NCAA thing was proceeding a blogger named Ben Domenech was hired and then subsequently forced to resign from the token conservative blog at the Washington Post. The left side of blog-land did 'opposition' research and discovered that Mr. Domenech's work was, well, not his own in all instances. And yet, Sen. Joe Biden continues to represent the state of Delaware. How do you explain that? (He asks, tongue firmly planted in cheek.) I actually find the whole episode rather amusing, that the Post would find it necessary to "reach out" to red states by - gasp - hiring a conservative blogger, and that Mr. Domenech, in pursuing a career in journalism, would think that "borrowing" passages from the work of others could smooth his path upward. I liked Rick Moran's cold take: "judging by the sheer volume of work in which he has shamelessly stolen others ideas and words, he will never write professionally again. And anyone who would hire him as a writer is a fool."
- More of the vast trove of documents procured from Saddam Hussein's Iraq are being translated and released, and with each release comes additional evidence that yes, indeed, Saddam did interact with Al Qaeda. Now, I know what you're saying, that a secular Iraq would never work with an Islamic fundamentalist Al Qaeda. But au contraire, Saddam's Iraq did. (hat tip: Ace) The latter article also discusses the alleged transfer of WMD to Syria. The NY Times today went and ignored the steady stream of evidence that war with Iraq, in light of the 9-11 attacks and Saddam's cooperation with Al Qaeda, was probably both inevitable and necessary, and makes the accusation that Pres. "Bush was set on path to war" with Iraq and would not be deterred, according to recently released British memos. Note to NY Times: This latest version of the Downing Street Memo would be a lot more compelling if the Iraqi documents were coming up empty. Currently, though, ...yawn.
- Will Franklin catches the AP lamenting the fact that annual deficits are lower than projected, and they apparently ascribe this to a nefarious (Rovian?) plot. Just go read Will's post for the full effect. One question: where does he get those marvelous graphics? They say a picture is worth a thousand words. With a few well placed photos I could avoid writing entirely.
- There's something Twilight Zone-ish about illegal immigrants protesting the establishment of a legal framework that deals with their illegal action - entering the country. The thing I find most disturbing is the intentionally-sloppy language used by the advocates. They avoid using the modifier "illegal" in front of the word "immigrant." I am not anti-immigration, but I think rewarding those who have successfully broken the law to enter and work in this nation is unwise. Again I quote Mr. Moran:
To my mind, the question is not whether he should come here or whether he has a right to come here, the question is how he gets here. Any nation that can’t control its own borders in the age of terror is asking for trouble of the cataclysmic kind.
Politically it is dicey. Those who oppose amnesty programs are painted as anti-immigrant, unfairly, and legally resident countrymen of the illegals are being encouraged to punish those lawmakers.
This nation is all about the American spirit, and the American dream. Come to the nation legally, learn the benefits of the American system, and assimilate into the America that you will grow to love, as my father did, and I will hold out my arms to you in welcome. You have my word.
