Tuesday, December 18, 2001

Quote of The Day

"(Anthony) Lewis has had a long and storied career at the New York Times, but for our part, we aren't going to miss his smug intolerance and sanctimony."

--James Taranto, Opinion Journal Online

Whispered advice is often the most valuable

Story for A Slow News Day: Hard to believe but one day after the evil doers have been vanquished (for now) there is very little big news. One feature we particularly liked was this from one Binoo Joshy at the AP on the effect the war has had on birds in Afghani skies. Talk about a stretch.

Attention Must Be Paid: While we were being distracted by the excitement of Daisy Cutters and heat seeking drones, Mary Frances Berry, a woman with a sense of entitlement larger than Geraldo's head, still has her brain crazy-glued to a chair at the U.S. Civil Rights Commission and refuses to let the President's nominee take his rightful place at the table. The Washington Post has an extremely one sided story on all this. We say abolish the commission and put the millions saved into more Daisy Cutters.

Passing Strange: Here's an odd little story that showed up in the middle of the night from the Islamic Republic Wire. It is either a complete phony or Clinton has finally gone barking mad. It says he's called Iran one of the most stable countries in the Middle East and their people truly democratic. Hummm. We wonder if there is enough interest in what Clinton thinks for anyone to check this out.

Reason To Be Scared: There are reports this morning that the vaunted al Qaeda fighters "broke down in tears yesterday and begged not to be turned over to the Americans." We suggest it was the other way around. They were crying because they were afraid the warlords would keep them and not turn them over to the Americans. They know we've got water, peanut butter, fleece jackets, boots, socks and Mighty Mighty Bosstones CDs.

Geraldo Heads Up: Our earlier reference to the size of Geraldo's head was triggered by this amusing piece by Terry Eastland in the Weekly Standard Further, and in the spirit of the season, we offer this tiny defense of the War Fashion Czar of Kandahar. His credibility may be permanently shot because of his demented defense of Clinton but one has to admit he's at least given us something amusing to hoot at during a fairly newsless time. He's got shot at and missed (German papers say one of his own men did it for yucks and drama) He's interviewed one of his sidekicks bare ankles and at least he got himself a lot closer to the action that Dan The News Man. All in, Fox is getting a half-bang for their buck.

News Cat Prowls the Ldot Halls: We want to introduce our newest staffer - StaffMouser - in real life a gracious Southern lady but on the job here at the site a formidable presence. Be warned. Her swift enforcement of the rules is already legendary.

--Your Expanding LComStaff