Archives: March 2006

What follows is an email sent to me by former State Department Chief of Staff Lawrence Wilkerson. Col.

How did America become great? Some would argue that it was indeed great before restless explorers, settlers seeking economic opportunity, and persecuted religious victims and others migrated here — and I get that point.

Just announced. . .Jack Abramoff sentenced to five years, 10 months in prison. This is too light for someone who so badly damaged this democracy. Wait….update….this is just for the Florida fraud case. He still needs to be sentenced for federal crimes. Good.

(Philippe Sands, Queen’s Counsel and Professor of Law, University College London) On 31 January 2003, David Manning — who now serves as British Ambassador to the United States — recorded notes on a secret understanding between British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W.

(Meretz Political Ad: Two Sperm Meet and Talk at Airport) Some observers are suggesting that the new parties and new personalities in Israeli politics have clobbered the old. I think that the bigger story is that the political right in Israel has imploded.

Well, this is big news. The man who will be Israel’s next Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert has dropped his bid for unilaterally settling Israel’s borders and has called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to negoatiate the permanent borders of Israel. Last Wednesday, Abbas said he was ready for such negotiations.

Amir Peretz actually looks like one of the big winners — clearly surpassing expectations — if exit polls hold steady with vote count. Avigdor Lieberman of the Russian-immigrant supported Yisrael Beitanu party — a hard-right party — is also a big winner.

Despite the anxiety many feel about the elections in Israel today, thus far the polls show the lowest turnout in Israel’s history. This is interesting and may mean that efforts to scare Israelis to the polls, whether the source of fear is Netanyahu or Hamas, are having little effect. More later.

Andrew “Andy” Card, one of the least publicly visible White House Chiefs of Staff in history but someone with a steady, careful management hand who must be given credit for much of Bush’s political success, has announced his resignation.