Headline fever

Occasionally, it's better to forego analysis and just shovel out links. Here's a smattering of what I have been reading over the last few days:

It's easy to criticize the Bush administration for balking at enacting the reccomendations of the 9.11 commission. The administration resisted the formation of the commission then stonewalled them. Nonetheless, dislike and lack of respect for the Bush administration shouldn't stop anyone from casting a critical eye at the commission's reccomendations. The ACLU warns of further civil rights violations if a National Intelligence Director (NID) and a National Counter-Terrorism Center (NCTC) that would centralize power over both foreign and domestic intelligence collection agencies in the White House are created.

Speaking of civil liberties, the FBI and the ACLU: The feebies are targeting protesters in advance of the GOP convention. I have not arched even one eyebrow in surprise. I understand the need to be careful. I also understand the GOP need to sanitize their photo op. Bad Ashcroft, bad. Dial back the flat tops.

It appears to me that a general buzz is flowing as a result of Kerry's cross country bus trip. Crowds are huge for Kerry, smaller and by invitation only for Bush. I like it. It can only help Kerry.

Is there anyone left who thinks that Iraq isn't about to implode? Below, I advocate maintaining an ugly status quo, leaving Sadyr and Najaf alone for now, focus on services while we build a huge international presence. I also explained why President Bush can't negotiate a solution to the problem without losing the election, and why, even if he had the inclination, which he doesn't, the allies would tell us to piss off. Fred Kaplan, from Slate, looks for hope in Iraq and finds slim pickings. It's no wonder. A conference of more than 1,100 Iraqis convened in Baghdad to move the country towards a democracy, only to be pelted with sadyr mortar shells. In a last grasp for peace, the conference has sent out a delegation to negotiate some kind of deal with Al Sadyr. Even though I feel a large lump of mushy hope as I watch the Iraqi soccer team prevail against the odds, even though yes virginia, there is a bright side to a bad war, it's still a bad war. The US is still trapped between a variety of really bad options. Iran is still breathing down Iraq's neck. The gas is still puoured. A shaky hands holds a match.

This David Broder commentary is well worth the read by both GOP and Dem flaks. In Bush's Two Albatrosses, Broder takes pains to explain why Bush is in trouble. It is worth noting that Broder's column, apparently, is a bell weather of Conventional Wisdom. Talking Points has a great post about this.

The GOP Convention will provide a venue for anyone and everyone who wants to protest. New York is struggling to prepare.