This should help out the 16% approval rating — if only trial lawyers and CAIR representatives are polled next time around. From the Washington Times, here’s Rep. Peter King: “I don’t see how you can have a homeland security bill without protecting people who come forward to report suspicious activity.” While the conference is not likely to meet again, Mr. King noted the conference report has not been written and

— Or, if you prefer, Vick is first dropped by a shoe: Nike Inc. suspended the introduction of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick’s latest shoe two days after a federal grand jury indicted him for allegedly conspiring to run a dog-fighting operation from a home he owned in Virginia. Nike, the world’s largest athletic-shoe maker, is concerned about the “highly disturbing allegations” and decided to postpone the release of Vick’s

“Judge Dismisses Plame Lawsuit”: A federal judge today dismissed a lawsuit filed by former CIA officer Valerie Plame and her husband against Vice President Cheney and top administration officials over the disclosure of Plame’s name and covert status to the media. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates said that Cheney and White House aides cannot be held liable for the disclosure of information about Plame in the summer of 2003

Hey, look on the bright side, capitalists and freedom fetishists: at least they were wearing masks and carrying baseball bats. Because from the sound of things, you’d half-expect them to be wearing crowns of thorns and dragging around giant, biodegradable crosses carved out of extra-firm tofu. And that would just be plain silly. (h/t Banedad)

Beats me. Turns out that he did some lobbying work — 20 hours worth, to be exact — a decade and a half ago for pro-abortion concerns. Now, as I’ve argued before (and as Powerline argues here), I don’t find (with, eg., Allah), that any “defense” is necessary: lobbyists and lawyers are paid to advocate for clients; they are advocates by proxy, and are not, of necessity, compelled to agree

young man in t-shirt: “Because the dude’s gotten rather fat and all.”

Because, you know — if the public is allowed to remain vigilant, the terrorists will have won. From the Washington Times: Democrats are trying to pull a provision from a homeland security bill that will protect the public from being sued for reporting suspicious behavior that may lead to a terrorist attack, according to House Republican leadership aides. The legislation, which moves to a House and Senate conference committee this

young lady in tank top: “So what do you think — does that guy like the earth or what?” young man in t-shirt: “Yeah — though if I had to guess, I’d say he likes pastry just a teensy bit more.” young lady in tank top: “Well, to be fair, you can’t really save the planet without a healthy reserve of carbs, can you? Think of it as alternative fuel.”

To Robert Crawford, for the twisted trifecta: Silence of the Lambs SE DVD, a gourmet slow cooker cook book, and a Fiesta Ware casserole dish. The dogs, they’re nervous. Thanks also to JHoward for the very sweet multimedia speakers. Now I can listen to my nasally drone in deep rich layers of nasally droniness. Why, I’m almost tempted to start podcasting just so I can listen to myself sounding so