Steve hosted a really interesting reception last night on the USS Sequoia for people interested in U.S.-Cuba policy. I managed to get past my characteristic awkwardness in DC-style networking situations and it paid off, as I met some very smart and passionate individuals.
For days, I have been intending to write a longer note about the objections to Michael Baroody that some have had about his appointment by President Bush to serve as head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
To no one’s surprise, Bill Richardson is officially a candidate for President. Richardson is showing well right now in Iowa, though some people doubt he can break through to the supposed “top tier” of candidates. I think he certainly has the potential; whether or not his candidacy really takes off remains to be seen.
Yesterday, Belarus ran for a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council – and lost badly. A few weeks ago, a Belarussian victory was seen as inevitable. Thanks to some great work by a few human rights groups and engaged governments, the tables have been turned.
Ron Paul and I have very few things in common besides our last name. We agree on very little, and we defend those few policy positions we happen to share on very different ideological and philosophical grounds.
Paul Wolfowitz has all but conceded that he is leaving his perch as CEO of the World Bank.
In case you’re completely up to date on Wolfowitz’s imminent exit from the World Bank and the new push on the Law of the Sea, some other interesting things worth a read: First, private citizen John Bolton says the U.S. should attack Iran soon.
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz pleaded for a second chance and offered to dump his gaggle of advisers who followed him to the Bank from the Bush administration.
John Ashcroft has been a governor, a minister, a senator, and Attorney General of the United States. His colleagues at his private consulting firm, call him “General” now — as a nickname and honorific.
President Bush has teed it up. All Senator Biden has to do now is swing for the fences. If he does, U.S. ocean policy and foreign policy will be considerably stronger. And a handful of out of touch, ultra-conservative Senators will look much, much weaker.
