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Tancredo Won’t Back Down

Despite Hugh's strong admonition and best hopes, Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo won't back down from his irresponsible and increasingly infamous "bomb Mecca" comments. He demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of our enemy and what strategic objective could be accomplished by even floating the idea as a potential deterrent: In an interview, Tancredo said he did not intend to offend moderate Muslims, whom he calls the "best hope" of bringing terrorists to justice. "When we bombed Hiroshima, when we bombed Dresden, we punished a lot of people who were not necessarily (guilty)," Tancredo said. "Not every German was a member of the Nazi Party. You do things in war that are ugly." He stressed that he was not advocating an … [Read more...]

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You Have to Watch What You Say

When you're a United States Congressman, you have to take special care what sort of public pronouncements you make, as they are taken to have much greater weight and significance than utterances from your average "shock jock." Not best known for his great tact, Colorado's own Congressman Tom Tancredo crossed a line while recently on a radio talk show. As one prominent "shock jock" has written eloquently in response: Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo's speculation about using nukes on Mecca following an act of nuclear terrorism in the United States is the most irresponsible statement any American official can make. It will be on al-Jazeera within the hour, and it will be used by jihadists against us. Such speculations send the message … [Read more...]

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Supreme Court High Stakes: A First Look

Jan Crawford Greenburg of the Chicago Tribune raises the specter today that political expediency might steer the Bush White House away from nominating an avowedly outspoken anti-Roe candidate for the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Nomination Blog speculates on the significance of reported statements that the President's people have dropped strong conservative Judge Edith Jones from the list. I don't think there's too much to read into this solitary report - unless you are starved for news on the subject amid the raging silence of recent days. First, Jones wasn't very high on many experts' A-lists as a potential replacement (even though Main Street USA reveled in her potential role as "the nuclear nominee"). Michael Luttig, Sam Alito, … [Read more...]

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Memo to the Left: Sit Down and Take a Deep Breath

Today's news? A military investigation of Guantanamo confirms that no torture occurred... not even close (though look for a few rabid lefties to focus on the humiliating case of Mohammed al Kahtani, the 20th hijacker, forced to wear women's clothes, endure verbal abuse, and experience sleep deprivation). A pro-growth Bush economy roaring back to life drastically lowers the estimate on the federal deficit. (Both Congress and the President need to continue reductions in discretionary spending, however.) With news like this, the partisan White House press corps and Capitol Hill Democrats continue to scream like petulant children for the head of Karl Rove on a platter - calling them "circling sharks" may be giving them too much credit. … [Read more...]

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Detroit Baseball: A New Hope

As Major League Baseball's 76th All-Star Game makes its appearance at Detroit's Comerica Park tomorrow evening, the spotlight turns on a city still haunted by the echoes of urban decay. Motown's battle for a fairer perception opens a new chapter. For many old enough to remember it, the words "Detroit" and "baseball" together conjure up a glorious 1984 World Series victory overshadowed by deplorable behavior - vandalism, fires, destruction. How far has Detroit come since then? Progress has been made, for sure, but not a lot. Michigan's largest city, the once-thriving world capital of automotive production, has a lot to prove. The Tigers, the wearers of the proud Olde English D, have a lot to prove as well. No World Series since 1984. No … [Read more...]

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A game of ‘one-upmanship’

First, read my post from yesterday. Then, read this story in today's Rocky Mountain News. Marc Holtzman and Bob Beauprez are going back and forth in an attempt to outdo each other in the early stages of the campaign for the Colorado Republican gubernatorial primary. No, I had no sources feeding me information. No, I'm not ghostwriting for Lynn Bartels. You come here for intriguing insights on Colorado politics, right? … [Read more...]

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Beauprez Racking Up Endorsements

In his bid to be Colorado's Republican candidate for governor in 2006, second-term Congressman Bob Beauprez is garnering some early key endorsements, just as the Marc Holtzman campaign has been picking up momentum. Former Congressman Bob Schaffer, who now holds the official GOP position of Colorado's National Committeeman, has given Beauprez a big boost with his thumbs-up, one that should resonate with the party's hard-core conservative voters. I'm not sure that in the midst of the Referendum C/D battle that the Governor Owens endorsement is that helpful with most voters who will participate in next year's Republican primary. Then again, how many are even paying attention at this point? Some might interpret the Governor's move as taking … [Read more...]

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Jolly Good Show

In a startling development that may have had something to do with one malodorous world leader's derogatory comments about a neighboring country's cuisine, London edges out Paris for the 2012 Summer Olympics bid, in spite of a failed grassroots protest. Joyful Brits take to Trafalgar Square to celebrate the city's first Olympic Games since 1948. How 'bout some fish'n'chips and a toast to Mr. Chirac? … [Read more...]