After the fiasco of George Bush, I'm not willing to fall head over heels for a someone with a golden tongue, or a presence that makes him look good for the Presidency. With just 2 years in the Senate, and a resume that avoided touching controversial legislation because he wanted to keep his record clear for a political run, I'm not going anywhere near him until I'm absolutely positive that he is the right man for America. I've seen enough bad Presidents. Its time to look good and hard at what we elevate to such resposibility and service.

It seems we have a national epidemic of failed leadership. The executive branch cannot prosecute a war without massive errors in judgement and leadership, and it appears the mainstream media can't report and control its information flow without making the same massive errors in judgement and leadership. That we have to revisit the tragic mistakes of 2003 again, is both sadly telling and revealing. Once you destroy your own reputation it is sometimes impossible to get it back.

I see the gray lady as Oliver Hardy, telling its reporters this is another fine mess you've gotten me into.

I really like the new site. I agree that the comments section should flow since that seems to encourage posting. I also like the way they did your caricature, although some might swear you're a relative of Ann Coulter, but since those are fightin words, I'll drop it.

OT

Amanda Marcotte has quit her position with the Edwards campaign. I'm sure William Donohue will be asking for Patrick Hynes resignation shortly.

This is the welcoming statement from the University of Tennessee College of Law. I'm disappointed Professor Reynolds exhibit of such blatant lack of ethics and character is getting such a receptive response across the internet. I'm both surprised and disappointed by the Universities lack of response to his blog.

"The University of Tennessee College of Law opened its doors in 1890, but it has never been better than it is today. For more than 110 years the Tennessee faculty have been dedicated to training competent, ethical attorneys. As the practice of law has changed, the curriculum has changed to keep pace with the evolving demands of the profession. However, the fundamental tasks -- "the development of skills, the nurture of intellect, and the molding of character" -- have never changed. The College of Law teaches its students to think, write, and speak like lawyers, providing them with a complete legal education.

This is a great law school and its reputation continues to grow. The faculty are dedicated teachers and nationally recognized scholars. They are leaders in professional and community service. Surveys of students consistently and enthusiastically praise the work of the Tennessee faculty."

I can't help but wonder what Professor Reynolds response would be if his line of thinking came out of Iran, and the President of Iran announced he was sending roving gangs to selectively remove right wing figureheads to improve Iran's position in the middle east.

Indeed, where are the authoritarian principled leaders of the right on this issue? The lack of their normally in concert voice is notably absent.

It must be difficult living with a multiple set of standards, one for dealing with the left and others that disagree with them, and another set for dealing with friends and others who are motivated with a keenly scripted agenda.

Domini, on page five has fashioned a well reasoned response to my original post and I am inclined to agree with him. I have altered my position.

If I didn't know better you are the "Major" with a holiday from alzheimers.

Tell me, as Commandeer-in-Chief can President Bush be court martialed by the military? Just asking.

Apparently there is truth to the claim that the mortars reported about in the Brit newspapers(principally the neo-con endorsed Daily Telegraph,) were in fact produced in Iran. Below is a link to Iranian weapons distributors that show that 81mm mortars are being produced in Iran.

http://www.iramig.ir/Products/Mortar%20Bombs.htm

The troubling factor in this imbroglio, is the fact that the munitions are labeled in english in a country that speaks mostly farsi, and dated with the Gregorian calendar, which is mostly unknown in that part of the world. The munitions are dated 2006, instead of 1427, the correct date in the Iranian calendar.

The simple fact that our large Corporate media which stands as the last line of defense in our discourse has not brought this up, speaks volumes to either their gross incompetence, or their dispicable allegiance to an elitist direction for this country.

The need to stand alone as a knight-errant of our mutual need to dissect our arguments must be maintained. Without a fully functioning press we are nothing.

Rob, I'm pretty sure that NOBALZ is the Major. The writing style sans typos and sputterings is similar, and I'm pretty sure MCcool is daleyrocks, because of his penchant for ad hominem attacks. I could be wrong of course, but its fun trying to guess.

DT certainly can rack up an impressive failure in his argumentation and critical thinking class.

FALSE CRITERIA (questionable criteria): reasoning that applies irrelevant criteria to the subject of the argument.

HASTY CONCLUSION (jumping to a conclusion): drawing a conclusion without enough evidence to support that conclusion.

HASTY GENERALIZATION (over generalization, converse accident, secundum quid ): Arguing that what is true of a few members of a class is true of all members of the class.