AMC’s 'Mad Men' And The Sweet Sell Of Success Ed Driscoll reviews the deconstruction of Ike’s America in the new cable mini-series Mad Men. “In the hands of a writer like Larry Gelbart or the late Terry Southern, this could be wonderfully satiric stuff… But the writers and producers of Mad Men don’t seem interested…”

Mitt Romney: Supporting the Surge and Committed to Victory

video In an exclusive PJM video interview in Okoboji, Iowa, Mitt Romney tells PJM Washington Editor Richard Miniter that he is “absolutely” committed to victory in Iraq. Of Iraq, Romney says that “at this stage the right course is the troop surge. No one has put forward a Plan B that is superior to that one.” Romney also talks about cutting spending as well taxes, immigration policy, his plan to keep Gitmo open, and putting pressure on the Iranian regime.

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The Glenn and Helen Show: Michael Yon Reports from Iraq Glenn Reynolds and Helen Smith caught up with independent journalist Michael Yon via satellite phone. Yon, who’s been covering Operation Arrowhead Ripper in the (former) Al Qaedah stronghold of Baqubah reports on how things are going, what he thinks will happen next, and his thoughts on the likely consequences of premature withdrawal.

This podcast is sponsored by Volvo Motors.

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Liveblogging the "YouTube" Democratic Debate Vodkapundit’s Stephen Green, drank his way through yet another evening of argument, coping with the disappointment that his video questions weren’t used in the Democratic “YouTube” debates (These were his contributions to the debate - I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) from Charleston, South Carolina. He’s not quite sure how other people made it through the three hours sober. [All promises of payment below are the responsibility of Mr. Green’s martini glass. Please direct all requests to said glass.]

"Are There any White Kids at Your School?" After a six-year stint as an elementary school teacher in the tough LA neighborhood of Watts, PJM’s Aaron Hanscom would like to know why wealthy Democrats like John Edwards don’t support charter schools or voucher programs. Is choice in education only acceptable to Edwards if parents have his kind of money?

Va-va-voom: Engineers at MIT have succeeded in making spacesuits look like they were supposed to in pulp science fiction, designing a body-fitting body suit which uses elastic materials to provide pressurization in the vacuum. (Medgadget)

Unveiling the Antiwar Message: Power Line comments on protests at a Hillary Clinton Campaign Launch Party by members of Breasts Not Bombs and Code Pink. “Warning: it’s not safe for work, or, really, anything else. But it does prompt this thought: isn’t it a bad thing for a political movement if its core members are, in large part, stark, raving mad?”

When The Real World Pulls Down Cyberspace: Techdirt reports, “lots of San Francisco-based web sites (Craigslist, Six Apart, Yelp, and Technorati, among others) have been experiencing some problems today, after power outages in the city took down 365 Main, a major hosting facility there.

Stick Em' Up: Glenn Reynolds is ambivalent about news that “Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor flew to freedom Tuesday after more than eight years in a Libyan prison,” remarking that “it was basically a kidnapping for ransom”.

Bush Says Iraq is Central to Fighting Terror: President Bush issued a detailed defense of the proposition that fighting al-Qaeda in Iraq is integral part of the broader War on Terror in a speech at Charleston Air Force Base. “There’s a debate in Washington about Iraq, and nothing wrong with a healthy debate. There’s also a debate about al Qaeda’s role in Iraq. Some say that Iraq is not part of the broader war on terror. They complain when I say that the al Qaeda terrorists we face in Iraq are part of the same enemy that attacked us on September the 11th, 2001. They claim that the organization called al Qaeda in Iraq is an Iraqi phenomenon, that it’s independent of Osama bin Laden and that it’s not interested in attacking America.” The text of the speech follows.

What Might Have Been: Mark Grimsley argues that Germany would have fought France in 1940 with a flawed warplan — had it not been accidentally compromised by a German courier plane which crash landed on Allied soil and perforce replaced by the actual and winning warplan. Oxblog says “that one accident was the [supposed] difference between the survival and the fall of France, and maybe the scale of the Holocaust. Its a provocative piece, but I’m skeptical.”

Violence Down, Confidence Up: The Strategy Page looks at the Surge. “What most of the troops, and Iraqi civilians, notice is the lower level of violence. Since the surge offensive began four months ago, Iraqi (military and civilian) deaths have declined by more than 50 percent, and American casualties are down by over a third.”

The Last Rites: The Ambulance Driver recalls the moments, over seven years, when he had to tell anxious loved ones the person he was crouched over was dead; beyond his help. There were men gone from old age, young blond accident victims, the middle-aged expired from a heart attack, daredevil young men on their shattered motorcycles. And the anxious survivors “… and then I say The Words. ‘I’m afraid she’s dead.’ “

Naive or Ponderous? Hillary Clinton called Obama’s pledge to meet with leaders of rogue nations during his first year in office “irresponsible and frankly naive”. The Carpetbagger Report thinks Obama slipped in making the pledge, but that Hillary may have come down too hard on him. Michael Goldfarb looks at the critical exchange between Clinton and Obama over how to treat rogue nations during the debate.

Busted in Nairobi: tHiNkEr’S rOoM jumps the railing, and tries not to drop the soap.

Dutch Confusion: Pieter Dorsman reviews five years of political turmoil and ongoing uncertainty in the Netherlands after returning from his annual trip to the country.

Long and Winding Roads: Varifrank drives up the “Victory Highway” which is today known as Highway 80, and notices how none dare breathe the word “Victory” in the modern world.

Brain Food: Go ahead, eat fish, say the folks at Center for Consumer Freedom, but some are worried about fish from China.

Cooking With Amy has Shrimp and Mango Kebabs: Recipe

The "Escape From Wisconsin" Plan: Fraters Libertas, who lives in Minnesota, welcomes the news.

Edwards Returns Lobbyist Money: After stating that “I’ve never taken political contributions from Washington lobbyists or PACs of any kind, and I’ll continue to do that,” Edwards has returned money donated to his campaign by lobbyists (AP/Breibart).

When Should Experts Matter? Daniel Drezner ponders the role of experts in a democracy.

Ward Churchill Faces Dismissal Hearing: Slapstick Politics liveblogs; Gateway Pundit has round-up; there’s a rally scheduled for 3:30PM today: Kesher Talk posts the ACLU of Colorado statement.

Update, 6:28PM EDT: Jawa Report just posted that Churchill has been fired. The UC Board of Regents has not updated their website yet.

Update, 8:20PM EDT: Regents vote to fire Churchill

Totten Rides With the Troops, Fumento Visits Tough Americans, Yon Renders Homage: Michael Totten rides with the troops In the Wake of the Surge.

Michael Fumento visits Tough Americans.

Michael Yon renders homage to General Wayne Downing.

The Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn: A public school in Brooklyn will “offer a challenging multicultural curriculum … [that] integrates intensive Arabic language instruction and the study of Middle Eastern history and historical figures to enliven learning across all subject areas.” A group opposing the school has started their own blog, Stop the Madrassa.

Frank Gaffney explains why there are grounds for concern.

Like Something Out of a Peter Cook/Dudley Moore Movie: Some Potter Fans Find Pages Missing (Breitbart/AP).

This movie, that is.

Big and Beautiful News: The Manolo inagurates a new specialized blog, Manolo for the Big Girl, with the Plumcake and the Francesca offering superfantastic advice.

All the styles they feature will be available in a size 10 or larger at the time of posting.

Four Shrinks and a Carnival: Sigmund Carl and Alfred has The Failed States Index 2007 by The Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy magazine;
Neo-Neocon visits Muir Woods;
ShrinkWrapped explains how the MSM fails the Democrats;
and Dr. Sanity has her weekly Carnival of the Insanities.

"See you in court?" Following Sunday’s post by Ysrael Medad on anti-Semitic slurs at Wonkette, Wonkette threatens to sue Yisrael.

Ysrael is not backing down.

A Retraction (Sort Of): Barcepundit has an update on the case of the Spanish royal sex cartoon.

Is America today the France of yesterday? That’s what Thomas Sowell fears. (Real Clear Politics)

Releasing Prisoners in California: Patterico blames illegal immigration for a plan that could result in the release of thousands of the state’s prison inmates.

Spitzer's Dirty Tricks: The NY Times reports that NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer aides improperly used the State Police to gather information about his chief rival, Joseph L. Bruno in an effort to plant a negative story about Mr. Bruno and damage him politically.” Radley Balko @ The Agitator agitates: “Spitzer denies any knowledge of what his closes aide was doing, which seems improbable. But hang on. Even he didn’t know, isn’t this the same guy who wants corporate executives held criminally liable for the mistakes of their underlings, even if they had no knowledge of those mistakes? Isn’t this the guy who wanted to make not knowing about those mistakes a crime in and of itself?”

Online Partisan Attack Videos: “A trio of edgy online videos attacking GOP presidential front-runners may comprise a new “dirty trick” in the 2008 presidential race — if anyone can figure out where they came from.” (The Blotter)

Questioning McCain: Betsy Newmark reports on a blogger conference call with John McCain. “Not to pat bloggers collectively on our backs, but I did hear a lot more substance and focus on policy in this call than with any half hour interview you might see with Senator McCain in TV. There, we all know that about half the time would be taken up with a horserace question focusing on ‘how come you won’t admit that you’re losing this race and just give up now?’ I noted only two out of eleven questions that were on the specifics of his campaign rather than on policy.”

Vox Populi: Howard Kurtz also liked the CNN Youtube debate: “I was, I admit, a skeptic. I thought the average folks’ questions might be so general that the candidates would tap-dance around them, and CNN would be left with a snoozefest.

But what made last night’s debate different, besides the disembodied nature of the video interrogators, was that they asked questions that journalists would not ask.” (Washington Post)

What's in a Name? Yesterday federal prosecutors revealed that Hassan Abujihaad, a former Navy sailor charged with supporting terrorism by disclosing secret information, also discussed sniper attacks on military personnel. Robert Spencer @ Jihad Watch asks: “Why was this man in the Navy in the first place? Did anyone ever think to investigate what kind of views this “Father of Jihad” (that is what his surname means) had about…jihad? Or if he had any connections to jihad groups?”

AP, MSNBC and CNBC Seen as Having Liberal Bias (Rasmussen poll)

Campus Riot: “Palestinian sources in Nablus reported Tuesday that one Hamas operative was critically injured, and nine others were lightly to moderately wounded, by Fatah gunfire near an-Najah University in Nablus.” (Ynet)

The Syrian Threat: Jacob Laksin writes on the dangers of believing that the dictatorship of Bashar Assad has had a change of heart — “it’s own road-to-Damascus moment” — and can now be negotiated with. “As the number of Syria’s well-wishers in Washington grows, the Syrian government has urged its citizens to leave Lebanese territory in anticipation of an unspecified “eruption” in the country. Nice to know that Syria, at least, is taking its own threats seriously.” (FrontPageMag.com)

Encounters With 'Regular Guy:' “Fred Thompson bills himself as a true southern conservative and a plain-ol’-folks regular guy. But is he just playing a part?” (Stephen Rodrick @ New York magazine)

Trapped In Camelot: “What happens to a nation when a world-changing event occurs of such tremendous magnitude that half the population can’t process who caused it?

September 11? Try the November 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.” (Ed Driscoll @ TCS)

“John Doe” Making a Comeback Thanks to Bloggers? So says Insider Politics @ Washington Times. (Hot Air)

And They Know What They're Talking About: The “Shock Troops - Scott Thomas” affair about dubious reporting at the New Republic makes the NY Times.

Later: A FOB Falcon US Army Officer Responds to Fictional Stories About Soldiers (Blue Star Chronicles).

Following in Paris Hilton's Footsteps: “Lindsay Lohan, who just finished a second stint in rehab for substance abuse treatment, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving early Tuesday, authorities said. Lohan, who is already facing a drunken driving charge in Beverly Hills, was pulled over near the Santa Monica Police Department after authorities spotted her car chasing another vehicle, said Sgt. Shane Talbot.” (AP/Breitbart)

Not surprisingly, TMZ has all the details and more.

CNN YouTube Debate Afterthoughts: Ryan Sager brings up the biggest gaffes and brightest moments. “I came into the YouTube debate a skeptic. But, after watching it, I think it was the best Democratic debate so far.” (NY Sun)

And as far as data is concerned, a SurveyUSA poll shows most watchers thought Hillary Clinton won. (Political Wire)

If You Can't Beat Luke Ford.... Hire him!

Tired of getting tweaked by the likes of Mickey Kaus over the fact that a maverick blogger like Ford has been scooping them on the ongoing mayoral sex scandal, the LA Times puts Ford on their Op-Ed page to discuss rumors, journalism, and blogging.

England Under Water: The terrible flooding of the past week and the financial and human toll it is taking is the real first test of the mettle of new Prime Minister Gordon Brown. (The Agonist)

Incredible pictures of the devastation, which is reaching Katrina-like proportions, are here.

And the Winner is....Obama? At least according to this Fox News focus group, which came into last night’s debate supporting Hillary, but walked away supporting the Illinois senator.

Suspicious Truck Reported at Dallas Courthouse Where Hamas Case Is Due To Begin Today: Authorities are investigating reports of a suspicious U-Haul truck at the Earle Cabell Federal Building in Dallas where opening statements are scheduled in a case against the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, alleged Hamas fundraisers. (FNC)

Kos Kleans House: Aware of the spotlight as the YearlyKos convention approaches, Kos himself makes an appeal for civility, asking his diarists to cool it with the “nasty rhetoric” that can get “so damn ugly.” (LGF)

This guy obviously wasn’t listening.

Tragedy in the Blogosphere: Christiana Hendrix, contributor to the blog Cold Fury, and wife of its editor, Mike Hendrix, lost her life in a motorcycle accident. Condolences are pouring in.

Free At Last: Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor who faced the death penalty for the bizarre charge of deliberately infecting Libyan children with HIV, have been flown to Sofia, Bulgaria, after eight years in a Libyan prison. (Bloomberg)