I received an email the other day from John Edwards and his campaign — not yet over the line on running for president — but asking me (and lots of other Americans) if I am going to “get ready” to change things. He’s gearing up and plans to announce tomorrow.

Wow. I just got the December 27th roster of awarded defense contracts. Perhaps they thought that between Christmas and New Year’s, not that many folks would pay attention. But seriously, we spend a lot of money killing people securing the world.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee incoming Chairman and just declared presidential candidate Joseph Biden is avoiding John Kerry’s political problem and not planning to say “I voted for it before I voted against it” by opposing the President’s plan to surge troop levels in Iraq on the front end.

Iraq’s government institutions — particularly its courts — have not hardened in the short time they have been functioning during the slap-shod democracy that the U.S. has helped prop up.

Oakley and Annie send their best — this blogger too.

I lost two friends recently, one was older and frequently ill and the other was as healthy as (I think) I am. I want to mention them here and salute them because I learned a lot from both. We all lose folks — part of life.

While I never believed that the sanctions measure being prepared by the UN Security Council against Iran would have had much effect on Iran, “losing” too many of these initiatives in which the U.S.

Check this out in the New York Times. This oped was creatively, graphically presented in the paper today and attests to a new and disturbing kind of White House politicization of intelligence.

This morning getting stranded at Reagan National Airport on the edge of a fun holiday was not fun — but far less of an ordeal for the thousands of passengers stranded in Denver. Happy holidays — in advance — to all.

For those up at 3 am when the morning newspapers are uploaded to the web, rush to the Washington Post and the New York Times. Unless lawyers or other news get in the way, two very important pieces will be up.