I've asked a few people, but no response so far. Would anyone be willing to take a look at my commenting code and Main Index (I don't know if both need to be checked) and let me know what the heck is going wrong with my comments? It's all MT default, but it doesn't work.

I'd be very grateful.

If anyone could suggest some alternate code -- like for pop-up comments -- that might correct the problem, that would be cool too.

Thanks. The email is aceofspadeshq@yahoo.com.

Posted by: Ace at 07:21 AM | Comments (7)
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The Iranians can't even live with the non-verifiable "deal" they've struck; they're insisting on last-minute exceptions, which by the way will allow them to continue building the bomb:

VIENNA, Austria - Iran is seeking a last-minute exception to its commitment to stop all uranium enrichment activities by demanding the right to operate around two dozen centrifuges, diplomats said Wednesday.

The Iranians have told the International Atomic Energy Agency — the U.N. nuclear watchdog — they want to operate about 24 centrifuges "for research purposes," diplomats told The Associated Press.

They have asked the IAEA to exempt that equipment from agency seals meant to ensure the enrichment program — which can be used to make nuclear weapons — is completely frozen, one diplomat said.

While the number of centrifuges was relatively insignificant, the request casts doubt on Iran's commitment to dispel international suspicions about its nuclear ambitions.

Just a little.

The move comes on the eve of an IAEA board meeting that will examine Iran's compliance to international demands including calls for a suspension of all enrichment and related activities — something Iran agreed to earlier this month in a deal with European negotiators.

A senior EU diplomat, who is also a delegate to the IAEA board meeting, said the European Union (news - web sites) was resisting the demand which it viewed as contravening a Nov. 7 Paris agreement negotiated between Iran and Germany, France and Britain, on behalf of the European Union.

I suspect the French will "resist" as long as they did in WWII.

Posted by: Ace at 07:17 AM | Comments (5)
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It's a good point, after all. I haven't heard Tim Robbins expounding on the "chill wind" of oppression as regards this filmmaker's butchery at the hands of Muslim extremists:

One would think that in the name of artistic freedom, the creative community would take a stand against filmmakers being sent into hiding à la Salman Rushdie, or left bleeding in the street. Yet we've heard nary a peep from Hollywood about the van Gogh slaying. Indeed Hollywood has long walked on eggshells regarding the topic of Islamic fundamentalism. The film version of Tom Clancy's "The Sum of All Fears" changed Palestinian terrorists to neo-Nazis out a desire to avoid offending Arabs or Muslims. The war on terror is a Tinsel Town taboo, even though a Hollywood Reporter poll showed that roughly two-thirds of filmgoers surveyed would pay to see a film on the topic.

Not as important, but more interesting-fun is this:

The producer [of an anti-Kerry Club for Growth commercial] was David Zucker, a self-described "Sept. 12 Republican," who made such classics as "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun."

Like I say: conservatives in Hollywood are like closeted gays in Hollywood. You just never can tell.

David Zucker? Get out!

Seriously, man, call me. I've got a great script for you.

Posted by: Ace at 11:25 PM | Comments (11)
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A decidely more sanguine take on Rather's blogger-induced exit.

And then the Post's editorial page weighs in.

Not Even Great Press From the Times Update: They call his resignation "abrupt" and say it's due to the Rathergate mess:

The network has yet to select a successor to Mr. Rather, who is 73, but two CBS executives said that the front-runner was John Roberts, 48, CBS News's chief White House correspondent, who also serves as anchor of the network's Sunday evening news program.

The fact that a successor hasn't been chosen casts doubt on the claims that this was a purely mutual and organic decision, doesn't it?

Though Mr. Rather and senior CBS executives had begun last summer to discuss a possible departure date within the next couple of years, Mr. Rather's announcement yesterday signaled an abrupt end to the nearly quarter-century that he spent in one of the most visible jobs in broadcast journalism.

Both he and Leslie Moonves, CBS's chairman and co-president of its parent company, Viacom, emphasized that the timing of the announcement was dictated by events largely out of their control.

Oh, okay. They're admitting that. That's a welcome surpise.

In an interview yesterday, Mr. Rather said that he and Mr. Moonves believed that it was important that he make his announcement well before the forthcoming release of a report by an independent panel investigating the journalistic breakdowns that led CBS News to broadcast and then vigorously defend the National Guard news segment.

"I wish it were not happening while this panel is looking into the '60 Minutes' weekday story," Mr. Rather said at his office at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street in Manhattan. "One reason I wanted to do this now was to make the truth clear - this is separated from that."

Mr. Rather said the most intense round of conversations among himself; his agent, Richard Leibner; and Mr. Moonves began about 10 days ago at Mr. Moonves's office at Viacom's headquarters in Times Square. At a certain point, Mr. Leibner excused himself and Mr. Rather spoke alone to Mr. Moonves.

"Dan was very emotional," Mr. Moonves recalled yesterday. "Clearly, this job and CBS News mean a lot to him. It was a very hard decision for him. Dan said to me, 'I'd like to do this on my own terms.' We totally supported him."

Mr. Rather - after a series of conversations last weekend with his wife, Jean, and his grown son and daughter - said he called Mr. Moonves, who was in California, on Monday afternoon and told him that he had made up his mind to go. In a measure of the awkward predicament in which CBS finds itself, Mr. Moonves said he felt compelled to inform the investigative panel of Mr. Rather's plans.

The volatile endgame surrounding Mr. Rather's announcement of his departure was in many ways true to the ups and downs of his career. ...

The report is set to be released in December, which seems well past due to me.

Still, it would appear that Rather has an idea about what the report will say, and that it's not going to be kind. That's a hopeful sign.

Posted by: Ace at 11:19 PM | Comments (4)
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I just haven't been able to keep up on my Oliver Willis bashing.

Fortunately, others have stepped into the breach. Say Anyhting spoofs Willis' pointless"Brand Democrat" nonsense.

Posted by: Ace at 01:39 PM | Comments (2)
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So says Rathergate.com.

RatherBiased seems more inclined to chalk it up as a win, albeit an ugly one.

They protect their own, don't they?

They will be reminded of this the next time they scold and institution for protecting its wrong-doing higher-ups.

Update: KerrySpot, back from vacation, has a summary of the reactions from the MSM and the blogosphere.

Posted by: Ace at 12:18 PM | Comments (2)
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A little alternative political history for you:

Washington, D.C. — President Bush announced that former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle would be his new White House counsel, in a move interpreted as part of an effort to reach out to Democrats. The Bush team has abandoned its euphoria over a victory that had the president winning a higher percentage of the popular vote than the last three Democrats elected to the White House, and instead reconciled itself to the reality that in a polarized political environment, elevating partisan enemies and encouraging internal critics is the only way to govern effectively.

"We realize that merely winning 51 percent of the vote, a higher percentage than any Democrat in 40 years, doesn't cut it anymore," said a chastened White House official. "Sure, Clinton tried to implement his ideas after winning 43 percent and 49 percent of the vote in 1992 and 1996 respectively, but that was a different time. We know we have to find a place within our administration for people who hate us and our ideas. That's what democracy is all about."

Bush set the tone for the day by throwing his arm around Daschle and saying: "Tommy fought every day to obstruct my agenda and paid the ultimate political price in a crushing defeat. That is the sort of pluck and political courage that should be honored in Washington — and that's exactly what I intend to do."

There's more good stuff at the link.

Posted by: Ace at 09:33 AM | Comments (2)
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About time:

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Some 5,000 U.S. Marines, British troops and Iraqi commandos launched a new offensive Tuesday aimed at clearing a swath of insurgent hotbeds south of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.

The joint operation kicked off with early morning raids in the town of Jabella in Babil province, netting 32 suspected insurgents, the U.S. military said in a statement. Jabella is 50 miles south of Baghdad.

Insurgent violence has increased in the areas south of the capital in "an apparent attempt to divert attention" away from the U.S-led assault on the militant stronghold of Fallujah, the military said.

The cluster of dusty, small towns located south of the capital, has been a major area for insurgent activity. U.S. and Iraqi forces have come under repeated attacks by car bombs, rockets, and small arms fire in the area.

The region has become known as a "triangle of death" for the numerous attacks by Sunni Muslim insurgents and criminal gangs on Shiites, Westerners and members of the Iraqi security services.

Posted by: Ace at 09:29 AM | Comments (2)
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Gone from anchor's role in March.

Posted by: Ace at 08:35 AM | Comments (10)
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New York Post: W. Soars in Post-Vote Poll

AFP: Bush Popularity Rises In Post-Election US

Adam Nagourney of the NYT: There's a Sale at Penny's!

No, wait, that was somebody else. Here's Adam Nagourney, the NYT's go-to man for cocooning the Times' liberal readership in pleasing deceptions:

Americans Show Clear Concerns on Bush Agenda

Now, the New York Times is a different poll (always skewing liberal), and they didn't find as much as a Bush bounce as the Gallup Poll. Still, Bush rose in their poll too; Nagourney just makes you wait a while-- until after the jump, perhaps? -- to tell you that:

And even after this tense and vituperative campaign, 56 percent said they were generally optimistic about the next four years under Mr. Bush. Mr. Bush's job approval rating has now inched up to 51 percent, the highest it has been since March.

Ninth paragraph. Before revealing that discomfiting little tidbit, Nagourney has to tell you such important stuff like:

* 70 percent of Mr. Kerry's supporters said they were more worried about candidates who "are too close to religion and religious leaders" than about political leaders who "don't pay enough attention" to religion

* Seventy percent said they were very or somewhat concerned that television, movies and popular music were lowering moral standards in this country.

etc. Remember, Nagourney is the guy who buried the lede of the pre-2002 election poll -- showing a big and decisive swing to the Republicans -- in order to tell us that the country was still divided or some stupid crap like that. You know-- stuff that's always true. Sort of like "Americans Show Clear Concerns on Bush Agenda."

He only has two headlines:

Bush's Job Approval Falls, for when it falls, of course; and

68% of Americans are still not buying whatever Gerard Depardieu is selling, whenever Bush's job approval actually rises.

This is senseless. You're not doing your readers any favors by coddling them with happytalk and lies, Adam. If Times readers are so damned enlightened and educated, I think you can trust them to handle the news that Bush is polling pretty well right now.

Posted by: Ace at 12:29 AM | Comments (11)
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