*Good catch: Lynn Swann announces that he’ll be exploring a run for governor of Pennsylvania as a Republican in 2006, challenging incumbent Democrat Ed Rendell. (Yes, that’s a picture of Captain Ed with Swann at the 2004 GOP Convention). Among other things, a Swann/Rendell race would be a classic East/West matchup between Pittsburgh and Philly, and would (in combination with what already promises to be a spirited effort by Democrats to knock off Rick Santorum) make Pennsylvania the highest-profile battleground in 2006.
*Has the tomb of the Apostle St. Paul been found?
*LaShawn Barber explains why Bill Cosby’s private life is a disappointment. I remain skeptical of some of the allegations against Cosby, and doubly so because of their timing, coming on the heels of Cosby speaking out for more responsible parenting among some segments of the African-American community, statements that gave some people a vested interest in discrediting him. But, as Barber points out, Cos by his own admission has not been faithful to his wife.
*One of my commenters took me to task for having the temerity to implicitly question Alan Greenspan, in the comments to this post. Somehow, I haven’t heard anything further about the issue since Greenspan came out in favor of private accounts in Social Security. Also, if you missed it, a debunking of the critics of Brit Hume’s use of FDR to support the private accounts proposal. (via NRO). And the bottom line:
[I]t’s important to remember that Social Security taxes and benefits have grown enormously since FDR’s day. So cutting benefits two generations from now as a way of making some room for the financing of private accounts within the Social Security system today can’t possibly be viewed as a violation of FDR’s original vision — and probably brings us closer to it.
*Rich Lowry on how critics of John Negroponte are the same people who made the perfect the enemy of the good in protesting the battle against Communism in Central America in the 1980s. On a related topic, some things are just too predictable. (via INDC)
*Druze for Jesusland? If you haven’t seen it, check out David Ignatius’ Washington Post column from Wednesday on how our progress in Iraq has energized the anti-Syria resistance in Lebanon, including this quote from Druze Muslim leader Walid Jumblatt, traditionally no friend to America:
“It’s strange for me to say it, but this process of change has started because of the American invasion of Iraq,” explains Jumblatt. “I was cynical about Iraq. But when I saw the Iraqi people voting three weeks ago, 8 million of them, it was the start of a new Arab world.” Jumblatt says this spark of democratic revolt is spreading. “The Syrian people, the Egyptian people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen. We can see it.”
*This meet-the-president story is cool. (HT: Vodkapundit)
*Daniel Pearl: the movie? Story here, background here, and commentary by Christopher Hitchens here.
*Richard Holbrooke:
One of Russia’s most serious actions has been ignored by Washington and the European Union: the continued presence of Russian troops in neighboring countries without their permission. In 1999 Russia promised to gradually withdraw troops stationed in parts of Georgia and Moldova — troops supporting destabilizing separatist movements.
Six years later Russian troops are still in these “frozen conflict” zones.
*Freedom from fear – British edition. Tony Blair: “There is no greater civil liberty than to live free from terrorist attack”
One very minor point: although the Druze consider themselves Muslims most non-Druze Muslims don’t. Consequently, it’s probably clearer just to write “Druze”.
Holbrroke’s description is probably correct; but what is the US supposed to do about it? Should we follow the “lead” of the EU? Should we act “unilaterally”? Holbrooke would justify the bucks he is paid for his column if he offered some advice.