On January 21, 2008 the Democrat candidates for President debated in South Carolina. John Edwards attacked Senator Barak Obama for voting "present" 100 times.

If the embed doesn't work, click on this link to watch the Edwards attack. read more »

It's always a dangerous think for a politician to come on the Colbert Report. Some do okay, but most look silly.

Newsweek has a weird story today about John McCain and his wife being influenced by superstition. The elements of the McCains' superstition:

- McCain picked up a head-up nickel in New Hampshire the day of the primary, saying, "I need all the luck I can get."

- the lucky nickel kept company in McCain's pocket with a lucky penny and lucky compass that McCain carries.

- McCain was nervous that he had missed seeing a movie (any movie) the afternoon of primary day because he has a 20+ year superstitious tradition of doing so.

- Cindy, his wife, wore her "lucky" color on Monday. read more »

Repat Teacher,

Back in October or November I suggested that you were quixotic in your campaign to get Bill Richardson elected President. You have soldiered throughout 2007, gamely presenting the case for Richardson and fending of criticisms.

However, we're nearing, possibly already at, that point where reality is surely intruding upon your consciousness: Bill Richardson cannot win the Presidency. Richardson cannot even entice Democrats to nominate him to be President.

I've marveled at the skill with which you've carried on this campaign, your quick command of relevant data, and your tenacity in the face of daunting odds. It's remarkable what someone with your energy and skill will do in service of a cause. read more »

Jeanne Assam carries a firearm undercover, and she likely saved many lives at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO.

Thank God Jeanne Assam was there, that she was armed, and that when she heard gunshots she had the courage to run to the murderer and deal with him. How many more would have died if she had not killed him? We'll never know, but surely the death toll would be higher.

In Newsweek, in Baghdad, violence is down 50%.

Key quotes:
IED attacks across the country are at their lowest point since September 2004, down 50 percent just since the surge peaked last summer. There hasn't been a successful suicide car bombing in Baghdad in five weeks, and the few ones in recent months have been small and ineffective. There used to be four a day, many of which claimed scores of lives each.

So the following observations do not come so much from the brass: Al Qaeda in Iraq is starting to look like a spent force, especially in Baghdad. The civil war is in the midst of a huge, though nervous, pause. Most Shiite militias are honoring a truce. Iran appears to have stopped shipping deadly arms to Iraqi militants. The indigenous Sunni insurgency has declared for the Americans across broad swaths of the country, especially in the capital. read more »

These three are the best, most relevant political ads I've seen in this election cycle. Swift Kids for Truth tell it like it is.

On Hillary Clinton
read more »

A friend of mine, Emily, wrote a blog post on her personal blog that got me thinking.

Emily is an intelligent woman and accomplished in her professional field. She and her husband are great friends from our time in Charlottesville. She's also a committed conservative politically, and related but distinct, she is a committed evangelical Christian. You will see that her evangelical faith is related but distinct from her conservative political principles in her post.

You can read Emily's post, "Nothing to Fear" (here).

Emily writes to conservatives in her post and tells them to do their part by:
a. nominating an electable candidate.
b. actually going to the polls and voting for this electable candidate.
c. under no circumstances nominate or support a 3rd party candidate to run on a "Christian values" platform

She then makes the case for Rudy Giuliani to be the GOP nominee.

At first blush, probably many liberal and conservative readers would read this a but one, legit, fairly typical articulation of a political philosophy. The readers may not necessarily share Emily's views, but this would be one acceptable view in a civil public square where a diversity of viewpoints are represented.

While I do think Emily's perspective is welcome in a civil public square, I disagree with her at a second level. Read her words under "b". read more »

I came across an interesting article/interview in Newsweek about recent activity by some evangelicals to work with players across the spectrum to foster dialogue about deepest differences. Joel Hunter, who enjoyed about a month as head of the Christian Coalition before his alleged liberalism became unpalatable, is interviewed in this article.

My personal context: Joel Hunter was (and maybe still is) a professor of practical theology at RTS-Orlando when I was there. He's a good man, the real deal, well-read and thoughtful. read more »

It seems the big political news today is that Elizabeth Edwards made a campaign video in which she claims her husband can look at himself in the mirror and "not blink."

Well, la di da.

I've seen a number of "You Supply the Caption" posts around the blogosphere and most of the time I'm impressed by the the wit of netizens leaving captions. This picture struck me as perfect for the game, so GWH readers, you supply the caption. read more »

This investigative report uncovers evidence that illegal immigrants are taking the jobs of American white collar workers.