Getting caught up feels impossible

But I’m trying, I’m trying. These are things I have wanted to link to and have not had time to, all day. I bet many of them you have not seen. Or, you know…I could be all wet.

421 AlQaeda fighters stopped before they reached the green zone? We need to pray to keep angels there. Ace reminds us of what President Bush always says: We need to be lucky every day…the bad guys only need to be lucky once.

Craven. Just Craven and empty.

John Hawkins considers 9 points about the electability of John McCain, and it’s smart and extensive. I doubt the guy is electable within the GOP, except if he is running against Hillary, in which case many conservatives will hold the nose and vote for him. Frankly, I expect McCain, (if his health holds out) to become a third-party spoiler – although that may well backfire on Hillary.

Stephen Hayes writes that the WH has finally – FINALLY – decided to release the Iraq papers, which is all well and good, and about dang time, but I still maintain that with the state of the press such as it is, President Bush needs to get out there and talk to America, plainly and clearly – before the joint houses if he must – in order to stop the distortion, misinformation and story spiking, and to stop the left and the press from defining him. He needs to lose a few loyal workers for some fresher minds, too, I think. Grrr.

Neo-neocon writing, brilliantly, as ever on Dr. Wafa Sultan” and what happened to bring her to light:

Dr. Sultan is one of those “moderate Moslems” that many have been seeking, Diogenes-like, and she is nothing if not outspoken. This recent profile in the New York Times caused quite a stir, and she’s received a number of death threats from those who were somehow able to obtain her phone number.
[…]
Dr. Sultan knows exactly and precisely what is happening here: she is declaring herself in front of the entire Al Jazeera audience in such a way as to be labeled a heretic and be placed under penalty of death. Her declaration of the Enlightenment creed of personal and religious freedom, “These are personal matters that do not concern you,” is one of the bravest acts I’ve ever seen.

You must read the whole thing. Also check out her post on the overuse and misuse of the term Orwellian which is one of my pet peeves, as well.

Ralph Peters lists The Myths of Iraq. There are lots of ’em.

How big is Russ Feingold? It’s as plain as the nose on your face. Don Singleton thinks he’s pretty small, on balance.

Ed Driscoll notes that the market highs simply don’t add up for the press. Wrong president, you know – good reports on the economy are a meme-killer. But Ed says that’s not all bad. Newsbusters spells out just how stingy the press is with its reports, though.

Siggy, the most generous of bloggers, turns his space over today to Mamacita who writes an important “must read” about the difference between a failure to learn and the failure to educate. This is long. Consider printing it out to read at lunch, but do read it.

You know who else is a very generous blogger? In The Right Place. I wish I had the time and the kindness of heart to do “thank you” roundups.

Strategery Page’s Harold Hutchison is still hot about the DPW deal and he argues with some insight that blowing the deal serves AlQ more than it does us.

The Real Ugly American has an interview up with Milblogger T F Boggs (for some reason that name always reminds me of T S Garp) that you might find interesting. The RUA is a pretty good interviewer. I like this part:

Secondly I believe that the kids in Iraq have been the recipients of the greatest kindness shown by soldiers. I don’t know a soldier here who doesn’t have a heart for suffering children. The amount of work that has gone into helping the children here has been amazing. Schools have been rebuilt and stocked full of supplies by soldiers and their families back home, toys have been sent by the tons for soldiers to hand out to the kids, soldiers give kids food and water everyday, and soldiers just generally show kindness and gentleness towards children. All of these things help Iraqi children see the softer side of the soldiers whereas some of the older generation deems the soldiers to be a necessary nuisance for the time being. I could go on and on about the good deeds of soldiers towards children but you guys get the point, right?

Jeanette at Oh How I Love Jesus has another long print-it-but-read-it post that will force you to sit down and think a bit. It’s a piece of writing from the persective of the US Marines, and from the Iraqis. Unusual and thought-provoking.

Need to lighten up after that? This light-saber fight is a stunner. Two talented kids put it together. Yeah, I know, you’ve seen it everywhere. But it’s really good.

Real Clear Politics has a new design and look -and it’s a winner – go check it out.

Are the Dems’ new primary rules meant to make it easier for Hillary? Why not, everything’s been greased for her up to now.

Theodore Dalrymple has some thoughts about British Freedom and Muslim Discipline and the wrongheadedness of Cherie Blair.

Maxed Out Mama is writing about Our Fiscal Stupidity; she doesn’t actually call it that, but that’s what it is. Good piece.

I have been a very bad Cotillion Girl and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if I’ve been drummed out of the club – but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been posting stuff well worth reading. This week: Feminism and sex, the sum of our body parts? Tempted???? I knew you would be!

Musing Minds notes that Sirhan Sirhan is up for parole again, again. Maybe we should talk to this guy – maybe he was the first clue that things were going very wrong in the Middle East…

My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy is now featuring My GOP Straw Poll. Go vote at Beth’s place for the GOP presidential candidate of your choice or – better yet – vote for whom you do not want to see on the ballot! :-)

President Bush and Jason; I read it and get all verklempt. We don’t get to see the president being human very often. Thanks MSM. We get to see all-too-much of him, though.

Kobayashi Maru notes that France has come late to the party and brought a cheap wine.

Notre Dame’s Rev. Richard McBrien is no favorite of mine – he’s too liberal even for my liberal l’il bro, Thom – and he’s worn out his welcome there, I think. Curt Jester points out that some things he plagarizes, and some he don’t.

I love Gateway Pundit, where you can get news from everywhere, condensed and smart. If you’re in a rush and having trouble keeping up, Gateway Pundit is the place to go.

Mary Beth Hicks writes about yet another reason I’m not into hand-holding at church, but she wraps it up with some thoughts about over-emoting in public. A good piece, but to me, even holding hands in church is over-emoting in public. Yech.

Finally, remembering that we are in Lent, there is an especially good Catholic Carnival up this week. I really liked this reminder that St. Patrick’s Day is about more than Beer and partying and this appreciation of Flannery O’ Connor…and this musing on the acceptible sacrifice. Oh, just go read all the stuff!