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Democrat Tom Vilsack, the governor of Iowa, has thrown his hat into the presidential ring . Here's a little history if (like me) your are asking, "Tom Who?"

Via ESPN's NBA Daily Dime : Greg (MA) : Celtics are [Ed. note: were] in first place in the Atlantic Divison! We're gonna win the championship! David Thorpe: You have the optimism of the 80-year-old man who marries a 22-year-old woman and buys a large house next to an elementary school.

"It was a solemn pledge, repeated by Democratic leaders and candidates over and over: If elected to the majority in Congress, Democrats would implement all of the recommendations of the bipartisan commission that examined the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001." Reading this intro, you'd think the WashPost is calling the Democrats cheats for "fooling" the American public into voting for them. But if you read the next paragragh: "But with control of Congress now secured, Democratic leaders have decided for now against implementing the one measure that would affect them most directly: a wholesale reorganization of Congress to improve oversight and funding of the nation's intelligence agencies . Instead, Democratic leaders may create a panel to look at the issue and produce recommendations, according to congressional aides and lawmakers." I think, right now, the concern with Democrats is them not wanting to right more blank checks to the Bush Administration. ...

"An Ohio woman was arrested and charged Monday in the August 2005 death of her infant daughter. Police said the girl died from burns possibly caused by a microwave oven . Her mother, China Arnold, 26, was jailed Monday on a charge of aggravated murder, more than a year after she brought her dead month-old baby to a hospital. Bail was set Tuesday at $1 million."

The media needs to catch up to scholars who have recognized that what's going on in Iraq amounts to a civil war.

" Fierce fighting Wednesday between coalition forces and insurgents shut down the Iraqi city of Baqouba, which has been roiled by violence in recent days, killing scores of militants and civilians."

I think it's safe to say many political journalists have personal political affiliations. They may try to hide it, but eventually it comes out in one form or another. I personally believe field reporters and anchorpeople should keep their affiliation in check and try to be as pragmatic as possible. As for the pundits and political talk show hosts, it would good if they would be more upfront about it. Why? Because these two groups do a lot of talking and invoke their opinion more than reporters and anchorpeople. And even though they don't want to admit it, the words of a pundit or talk show host resonates more with the public. Despite this, many try to maintain the facade that they are neutral. Nothing can be further from the truth. Anyone who considers themself a political insider has obviously made friends from one of the two major parties (or both) and most likely has something to lose (like insider information) when/if members of that party lose elections or leave office. Wi...

As long as funding requests can be made in the name of the "Global War on Terror," the sky's the limit .

"A federal judge in Los Angeles has ruled that the Bush administration violated the Constitution when it froze the assets of more than two dozen alleged terrorist groups after the Sept. 11 attacks. U.S. District Judge Audrey B. Collins, in a ruling released Monday, held that an executive order Bush issued Sept. 24, 2001 — designating 27 groups and individuals as 'specially designated global terrorists' — was ' unconstitutionally vague .'"

A peek into Dick Cheney's early infatuation with the "unitary executive."