Gunman in Johnson Space Center: or is he??

From Yahoo/AP:

HOUSTON - A Johnson Space Center building was evacuated Friday after reports of a gunman inside, Houston police said. Police were called about 1:40 p.m. for Building 44, which houses communications and tracking development laboratory, news reports said.

Johnson Space Center security officers and Houston police, including a SWAT team, were dispatched to the scene.

NASA spokesman Bill Jeffs said he could not confirm whether there was a gunman or whether any shots were fired.

"It's an ongoing situation," he said.

If there is no gunman, what situation??

Earth to Reid: Shut the eff up!

From a CFR report dated yesterday:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said Bush “must search his soul, his conscience” to recognize that a bill calling for a troop drawdown next year is right for the country. The talks took place on an especially bloody day in Iraq, with multiple bombings killing nearly two hundred people (Reuters). The White House wants to give time for Bush’s surge strategy, which aims at pacifying the capital to permit the space for political progress among Iraqi factions, to work.

Look, I understand and accept that Reid, et al, has every right to stand in opposition to foreign policy. But, with rights come responsibility.

Iraqis are DYING because the insurgents are emboldened by the domestic politics of the Democratic Party. Or, do you really believe the increased attacks have absolutely nothing to do with their intended effect on American politics?

If the old adage, "enemy of mine enemy" carries any weight, then the charge of Reid, et al, being in bed with the insurgents has validity. Both are benefiting from, and feeding off of, each others actions.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't: More Dem short-sidedness

White House considers war overseer

The White House is considering naming a high-powered official to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and report directly to President Bush and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

The goal would be to improve the coordination of military and civilian efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan by different parts of the government.

The Washington Post reported that the White House has approached at least three retired four-star generals in recent weeks, but they have declined to be considered for the position.

[...]

Democrats poked fun at the White House for searching for an official to oversee the wars.

"Someone needs to tell Steve Hadley that position is filled, it's the commander in chief, unless the decider's become the delegator," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill.

A Decade late: George Soros and "self-evident" truths

Ok Ok. So Soros said this nearly 10 years ago and I am only now getting round to poking a stick at it.

The principles of the open society are admirably put forth in the Declaration of Independence. But the Declaration states, 'We hold these truths to be self-evident,' whereas the principles of the open society are anything but self-evident; they need to be established by convincing arguments. (emphasis in original text- ed.)"

My memory is a bit fuzzy; didn't someone once make a comment about ideas and systems of government that require an intellectual elite to understand?