Death of a brother

I read this in the Chronicle today. Made me think of my own brother. The back of the menu of one of my favorite early-morning breakfast spots is filled with quotes. One said something to the effect of "Friends are God's way of making up for family". I'm sure in Charles Krauthammer's case that wasn't true.

Via The New Republic

Barak Obama criticizing the Alito filibuster

Barak Obama seems like he has a good grip on how to make the Democratic party viable.

From The New Editor.

"We need to recognize, because Judge Alito will be confirmed, that, if we're going to oppose a nominee that we've got to persuade the American people that, in fact, their values are at stake," Obama said.

"There is an over-reliance on the part of Democrats for procedural maneuvers," he told ABC's "This Week."
...

"There's one way to guarantee that the judges who are appointed to the Supreme Court are judges that reflect our values. And that's to win elections," Obama said.

At least he knows where to start.

Courtesy The New Editor.

The Truck is back up and running again

Check out T-bone's newly reconstituded blog, Fine Leather Truck.

He definitely has a flair for reporting on the Houston music-scene.

Good stuff, glad to have him back.

From Threatswatch

Bill Roggio used to post at Fourth Rail (see links), but since he went to Iraq to embed he has been posting at Threatswatch.org.

I was on the site today and found this flash presentation:

Hey Syria, Who's next?.

For more on the current situation on Syria/Lebanon, check out CNN for the story on the Former Syrian vice president Abdel-Halim Khaddam.

For analysis, Check out Lebanese Political Journal.

Republicans issues in Texas/nation in the new year?

So I was reading Instapundit, and I saw he linked to this post on Anklebiting Pundit. To sum it up, the post is a call for action in the republican party to start cleaning house (in the light of the Abramoff scandal). Incidentally, I'm watching the Austin news where I see that Carole Keaton Strayhorn is running for Governor of Texas as an independent. Coinkidink? I think not, me droogies. I think Strayhorn has her finger in the air and smells the issues about to hit the national fan. Predictions for the 06 fight? Republicans will have to clean house, and get back to their fiscally conservative base in light of the bridge to nowhere debacle (which by the way seems to be a continuing problem).

Aaahh, open up the windows, spring cleaning came early this year. Seems like '94 all over again, but this time its the republicans that will have to answer to the public. Good. I want to see some reform in congress.

Links via Instapundit.