Since 2003, readers of the Southern Illinois Daily Egyptian have been following the heartwrenching story of Sgt Dan Kennings, deployed in Iraq, and his 8-year-old daughter, Kodee, waiting and hoping for Daddy to return home safely.  Powerful stuff, particularly after news hit Southern Illinois that Dan had been killed in action—leaving Kodee (whose mother had died years earlier) an orphan. …Which makes it all the more unforgivable that the whole

While less politically-committed folk were spending their Friday afternoons enjoying Happy Hour hot wings and $2.00 Sam Adams, yours truly was down at the Denver Court House having his middle name legally changed to “Hindrocket”.

From Mr Snitch:  “Accused of changing the rationale for ‘his’ war, and hounded for mismanaging it. Mocked for his public speaking. Ridiculed as an idiot. Blamed for dividing the nation. Charged with incompetence in his administration. Accused of trampling on the Constitution. Engaged in censorship of the press. Pressured to demand a key Cabinet Advisor’s resignation…”

Terry Hastings points me to this very interesting Volokh thread addressing KC Johnson’s Inside Hire Ed article on ideological diversity within the academy—an article that itself takes on a U of Pittsburgh critique of the latest in a string of surveys showing ideological one-sidedness (overwhelmingly favoring the left) in American universities. Writes Johnson: Inside Higher Ed recently reported on four University of Pittsburgh professors critiquing the latest survey suggesting ideological

In her latest Weekly Standard piece, “Speak of the Dead,” Noemie Emery notes that the political theater of grief-mongering is becoming standard fare for the left: Political cut and thrust does not go well with the etiquette of bereavement, which tends to short-circuit all argument, which of course is the point. It inhibits argument, makes response awkward, and sometimes can stop it completely, putting an opponent in the position of

You’re right, I should be.  Sorry.

Nope.  Not behind my sofa cushions—though I did find a few disciples of the Jesus Skittle. At least, I think they’re His disciples; they have the beards and that same beatific glow, but I suppose they could just be a bunch of nicely-tanned southern rocker Skittles.  After all, it’s not like I haven’t pulled a hungover, whisky-soaked Marshall Tucker Band out of there on more than one occasion… Developing…

From the AP The state attorney general [of TN] wants the country singer who made the song “Redneck Woman” a hit to stop “glamorizing” the use of smokeless tobacco at her concerts. State officials said Gretchen Wilson can be seen on concert jumbo screens pulling a can of Skoal from her pocket while performing her new song, “Skoal Ring.” That may violate the 1998 settlement between states and tobacco companies

Lump on a Blog sees important differences between the Afghan and Iraq constitutions: The role of Islam is also a source of contention, which I address here. Many point out the Afghan constitution and the greater role allowed Islam in that country as proof we pessimists are over-reacting—but the comparison itself is flawed. The people of Afghanistan were empowered by a strong American response that enjoyed international and—more importantly in

Via Eric Pfeiffer, NRO’s “The Buzz”: It feels like a waste of space to even be mentioning this, but Al Sharpton is coming to Crawford on Sunday. So are a group of Neo-Nazis. Like the protesters say, they really do have “support” from all corners of this nation. Although it’s a slightly different story when you take a look at just who is supporting your cause. I see.  A bit