Interesting News - 5 January 2008

A tribute to Major Andrew Olmsted, first American killed in Iraq in 2008, who wrote his last message to be published in the event of his demise.

Explaining the left: "It is inconceivable to paranoid persons that people actually exist who view the situation differently from them. It is inconceivable that they could be wrong about their perception of reality. Con men always think others are out to con them. In fact, most paranoids consider themselves the ONLY reality-based community, because they get to define what reality is and it is always what they happen to feel. And it is always about making sure they feel good and virtuous and self-righteous." It’s a good thing we have Dr. Sanity to give us a road map into the swamp that is the mind of the left. What set this off was an article in HuffPo that kind of ignores that Bobby Kennedy was not killed by the vast right wing conspiracy, but rather by a radical Islamist.

Crusader Rabbit in NZ ponders just how slender is the thread on which hang our individual rights, while Australia ponders drafting a Bill of Rights. There is concern that this might turn into a morass.

It’s a good thing Bush just signed an energy bill mandating the next generation of light bulbs. I wonder if the money we save will be less than the costs of medical treatment.

Hang ‘em. Hang ‘em high. The Supreme Court will review whether the death penalty can be constitutionally imposed for the rape of a child. Some interesting thoughts on this at Big Lizards.

Hear the howls and lamentations of a social conservative starting into the morass of a Huckabee candidacy. I think Rick is absolutely correct that a sorting out of the social and religious conservative strains of the Republican Party is inevitable and indeed, may be upon us.

There is wisdom at the bottom of truisms, one of which is never grab a tiger by the tail.

NRO on the possible appointment of disbarred attorney William Jefforson Clinton to the position of Justice on the Supreme Court: "Presumably the Supreme Court needs to do something about our draconian sexual harassment laws." (h/t Instapundit)

The Fall of the House of Clinton discussed at Powerline.

Dr. Helen wants a few questions answered by the tabula rosa that is Obama before casting her vote in November.

Approving of foreign investment on the theory of South Parkenomics.

What the hell is Arkin still doing at the Washington Post beyond providing Iraqpundit an opportunity to shoot idiots in an idiot-barrel.