The Online Houston Chronicle has asked the lovely Rightwingsparkle to be its conservative blogger. You can visit her here, where she is blogging under the name of “TexasSparkle.” Which is helpful, insofar as it reminds some Houstonians that they aren’t living in, say, California or New York. Congrats, and best of luck!

From Reuters: An official in Turkey’s ruling party has been arrested for chewing gum while laying a wreath at a monument to the country’s revered founder Kemal Ataturk, the state Anatolian news agency said on Monday. Veysel Dalci, head of the local branch of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the Black Sea town of Fatsa, was charged with insulting Ataturk’s memory during Sunday’s ceremony marking Turkey’s National Sovereignty

James Taranto points out some stunning rhetoric from John Kerry, whose pretzel logic never fails to amaze.  On the Mary McCarthy story and leaking in general, Kerry allows that “nobody should leak,” but claims it’s a less serious offense “if you’re leaking to tell the truth.” Then he says: “I’m glad she told the truth.” Are you, Senator?  Really?  And yet you want to be President? Because let’s look closely

From CNN: Sources close to the White House said Monday that Fox anchor Tony Snow is likely to accept the job as White House press secretary, succeeding Scott McClellan. The sources said they expect him to announce his decision within the next few days. A source familiar with the discussions said Monday that newly appointed Chief of Staff Josh Bolten asked Snow to make a decision by early this week.

From CNN: A U.S. official told CNN on Monday that the CIA officer fired for leaking classified information was accused of a “pattern of behavior,” including multiple contacts with more than one reporter. Sources also confirmed to CNN that the officer fired last Thursday is Mary O. McCarthy, who last worked in the CIA inspector general’s office. “It’s not just about one story, it’s a pattern of activity,” the official

The indefatigable Michelle Malkin and crew (including Allah and JunkyardBlog’s Bryan Preston) have launched what they are calling “the world’s first full-service conservative Internet broadcast network.” Check it out here. Question:  would any of you be interested in a protein wisdom podcast?  How about a video report in the format of Michelle’s new “Vent”? (abeit with an R-rating and lots of visual evidence of liquor abuse?) Or would my nasally

Karl Maher at Can’t See the Center has the details. Remember:  an informed electorate is not the same as a pre-formed electorate.  And to many contemporary jouralists, the latter is the goal. You know, for the greater good and all…

From ABC Online (Australia), “Howard hails appointment of new Iraq PM”: Prime Minister John Howard has welcomed news the President of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, has invited a prominent Shiite politician to form a government. Shiite leader Jawad al-Maliki has been given 30 days to form Iraq’s first full-term post-Saddam Hussein government after being nominated as prime minister to end a four-month political deadlock. Mr Howard says the selection of Jawad

From the good news / bad news file.  From John Fund, WSJ: Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi’s luck is running out. Eight weeks ago the Taliban diplomat turned special Yale student made a media splash on the cover of the New York Times magazine in which he proclaimed: “In some ways I’m the luckiest person in the world, I could have ended up in Guantanamo Bay. Instead I ended up at Yale.”