Batch Operation

Sometimes this place gets trapped in a bit of aspirational paralysis – I have so many things put aside to be noted and written about that I’m unable to get started on any one in particular.  So, forgive (and hopefully enjoy) some of the declutter:

Matt Tabbai takes on Lara Logan’s ridiculous attack on the journalism of Mike Hastings (author of the piece that sent McChrystal packing).

See, according to Logan, not only are reporters not supposed to disclose their agendas to sources at all times, but in the case of covering the military, one isn’t even supposed to have an agenda that might upset the brass! Why? Because there is an “element of trust” that you’re supposed to have when you hang around the likes of a McChrystal. You cover a war commander, he’s got to be able to trust that you’re not going to embarrass him. Otherwise, how can he possibly feel confident that the right message will get out?

If you click on nothing else in this post, click on the first link.

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As ever, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is an embarrassment to decent people everywhere.

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I didn’t expect England to get near the finals, but I didn’t expect them to go home so soon.  I much would have preferred they face Ghana than Germany.   James Fallows has a great roundup of the dark mood that befell most of the British press by the end of the ENG-GER match.

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If the title of this doesn’t take you there, I don’t know what to say – Pablo Escobar, Guerillas, and My Dream Bike.  The world is filled with amazing stories.

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Jon Shure attempts to answer the question – If You Tax Them, Will They Flee? It’s not a bad analysis to pull out whenever you start hearing the “If we raise taxes here, we’ll drive out all the rich!”  It’s something I hear around here (DC/VA/MD) in cycles, and yet people pretty much stay put.  Shocking, no?

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A perhaps surprising admission – I’m enjoying the Kagan confirmation hearings.  Some of it is being reminded of con law issues I’d long since forgotten, or getting a quick sketch of where current hot issues stand.  And part of it is just the mostly friendly approach of all involved.  Unfortunately, there’s always Jeff Sessions (R-Unreconstructed South) to spoil things.  Christ is he dumber than a box of rocks.

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I’m sure this only happens in academia.

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The Airbus A380 continues to be a draw for some travelers.  The closest I’ve gotten to one was on the tarmac at LAX, unfortunately.  Someday.  Soon, I hope.