Looks like a partial victory at best:

Gov. Eliot Spitzer, as expected, and US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, has announced what is essentially a compromise in the governorÂ’s mushrooming illegal alien drivers license debate.

Basically, the plan calls for a two, or really a three-track drivers license program in New York: one for illegal immigrants, another that will let citizens cross the Canadian border without a passport (that will soon be a requirement). Thirdly drivers can choose to get a federally-approved Real ID license that will let them board airplanes and enter federal buildings without presenting a passport or other proof of citizenship.

The second two, however, will carry a yet-to-be determined extra cost.

At first blush, SpitzerÂ’s move is both a defeat and a smart tactical move.

Not sure why the federal government is signing off on any type of legal documentation for illegal immigrants but we'll see what this means as more details emerge.

Having had a few minutes to think about this I don't see how this is going to quell the anger that was generated by the earlier plan. Yes, the fact that NY licensees were being devalued as ID for things like getting on an airplane was part of the outcry but at the heart was the very idea of providing legal instruments to illegal immigrants. This plan doesn't address that except it will cost more for citizens to get a service they already get while illegals pay the current lower price. How exactly is that going to make people less angry?

How long until some 'immigrants rights' group complains that illegals are being treated as 'second class citizens'?

Posted by: DrewM. at 08:47 AM | Comments (20)
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OpFor has the story of Iraqi soldiers reaching out to Americans in need.

Don't hold your breath waiting for this story to make the MSM, you'll die first.

Posted by: DrewM. at 08:01 AM | Comments (24)
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No, not military volunteers, the services are doing a great job recruiting. It turns out the State Department that is having trouble staffing its 200 or so positions in Iraq. Apparently, there aren’t enough Ivy League graduates volunteering to serve a year there, so the department is going to start ordering people to fill key positions.

In the largest call-up of U.S. diplomats since the Vietnam War, the State Department is planning to order some of its personnel to serve at the American Embassy in Iraq because of a lack of volunteers.

Those designated "prime candidates" _ from 200 to 300 diplomats _ will be notified Monday that they have been selected for one-year postings to fill the 40 to 50 vacancies expected next year.

…

The U.S. military has quietly but repeatedly complained that its forces and other Defense Department personnel have been pressed into service in jobs that should have been filled by State Department personnel.

In particular, Defense Department employees and service members were forced to fill spots on provincial reconstruction teams for months because the State Department could not get personnel there.

Military officials have complained that other federal agencies _ including State, Commerce and Agriculture _ aren't moving quickly enough to fill critical needs in Iraq. Those agencies, they argue, have the expertise to help Iraqi business people and farmers get back to their jobs and improve the economy.

Now in fairness, Iraq is still a dangerous place (well, except incredibly for Anbar Province) and several State Department employees have died while serving there. It seems however that since everyone keeps saying that only a political solution will lead to victory in Iraq, you’d think the people who specialize in that would be flocking there.

I guess too many State Department officials took John Kerry’s advice…they got a good education and aren’t looking to gett’n stuk in Irak.

h/t Greyhawk at MilBlogs

Posted by: DrewM. at 07:51 AM | Comments (20)
Post contains 327 words, total size 2 kb.

No, not military volunteers, the services are doing a great job recruiting. It turns out the State Department that is having trouble staffing its 200 or so positions in Iraq. Apparently, there arenÂ’t enough Ivy League graduates volunteering to serve a year there, so the department is going to start ordering people to fill key positions.

In the largest call-up of U.S. diplomats since the Vietnam War, the State Department is planning to order some of its personnel to serve at the American Embassy in Iraq because of a lack of volunteers.

Those designated "prime candidates" _ from 200 to 300 diplomats _ will be notified Monday that they have been selected for one-year postings to fill the 40 to 50 vacancies expected next year.

Â…

The U.S. military has quietly but repeatedly complained that its forces and other Defense Department personnel have been pressed into service in jobs that should have been filled by State Department personnel.

In particular, Defense Department employees and service members were forced to fill spots on provincial reconstruction teams for months because the State Department could not get personnel there.

Military officials have complained that other federal agencies _ including State, Commerce and Agriculture _ aren't moving quickly enough to fill critical needs in Iraq. Those agencies, they argue, have the expertise to help Iraqi business people and farmers get back to their jobs and improve the economy.

Now in fairness, Iraq is still a dangerous place (well, except incredibly for Anbar Province) and several State Department employees have died while serving there. It seems however that since everyone keeps saying that only a political solution will lead to victory in Iraq, youÂ’d think the people who specialize in that would be flocking there.

I guess too many State Department officials took John KerryÂ’s adviceÂ…they got a good education and arenÂ’t looking to gettÂ’n stuk in Irak.

h/t Greyhawk at MilBlogs

Posted by: DrewM at 07:51 AM | Comments (25)
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BUMPED: (hey, it's a friendly reminder). Get your picks in. Win fabulous prizes.

And the fires. And Globalwarmingclimatechange too.

Standings from AoSHQI, as always, temporary until PHenry rouses from his slumber.

UPDATED: Merged results of AoSHQI and II (good morning sunshine!)

1 Bart 61
2 Phenry 58
3 BostonIrish 56
4 MCaN 55
5 JavaJoe 54
5 The Core 54
5 Stashiu3 54
5 Slublog 54
5 Physics Geek 54

The rest of you suckas just got the Nikolai Yezhov treatment.

You never really existed.

13 games this week, Denver and Green Bay on Monday. Deadline is Sunday at 11:55 EDT (except for Bart, leaders can turn em in at 3:05).

BONUS AOS COVERAGE: I was going to post the bottom feeders too, but I'll hold off another week or so until it becomes obvious you suck, and aren't one of the ones who just gave up several weeks back. Instead I'll do a highlight feature on one of the mediocre pickers (like me).

This week, say hey to alexthechick, riding high at 44 after back to back 6/14 and 5/13 weeks. I am a solid 5 points ahead of her, and at this point I think it's safe to say it's a pretty insurmountable lead.

ALSO commenter hit and run asks for your support for his friend's daughter Jessica, a soccer player at UNC (some people call that football, so there's my connection. Weak, I know but there it is), who is a finalist for the Lowe's Senior Class Award in NCAA Women's Soccer.

Help a moron's friend out. You'll be glad you did.

Posted by: Dave In Texas at 11:12 PM | Comments (13)
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They'll be very popular, as Igor observed.

The human race will one day split into two separate species, an attractive, intelligent ruling elite and an underclass of dim-witted, ugly goblin-like creatures, according to a top scientist.

100,000 years into the future, sexual selection could mean that two distinct breeds of human will have developed.

The alarming prediction comes from evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry from the London School of Economics, who says that the human race will have reached its physical peak by the year 3000.

These humans will be between 6ft and 7ft tall and they will live up to 120 years.

"Physical features will be driven by indicators of health, youth and fertility that men and women have evolved to look for in potential mates," says the report, which suggests that advances in cosmetic surgery and other body modifying techniques will effectively homogenise our appearance.

Men will have symmetrical facial features, deeper voices and bigger penises, according to Curry in a report commissioned for men's satellite TV channel Bravo.

Women will all have glossy hair, smooth hairless skin, large eyes and pert breasts, according to Curry.

Awesome.

100,000 years you say?

I'll try to cut down on triglycerides.

But honestly, this guy sounds like he's obsessed with The Time Machine and Dr. Strangelove.

Thanks to... lots of people.

Posted by: Ace at 11:08 PM | Comments (71)
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Greetings from your official party planner. Here's what we're looking at.

Ace is going to be in the Los Angeles area in early November, which is just a week away. I'm looking at dates and venues, but tentatively I'm leaning towards having the event on the evening of Saturday, November 3rd or Sunday, November 4th.

I'm mostly familiar with sports bars on the west side, and I'm particularly fond of Yankee Doodles in Santa Monica. Other options include Q's Billiards in West L.A. or some place called "The Parlor in Santa Monica" which sounds ghey but is supposed to be a pretty cool new sports bar.

This is your one and only opportunity to suggest dates and locations because time is running out.

The location will also depend on how many morons are coming and from where they are coming. If you plan on doing Aceapalooza, please let me know in the comments or email me at gabriel.malor at gmail.

It'll be up to Ace whether we post the event site here or send emails to people we know are coming. If I remember correctly there was some issue about unwanted company last time.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 04:48 PM | Comments (99)
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Heckuva introduction.

More under the fold. more...

Posted by: Ace at 03:38 PM | Comments (13)
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Was over at RightwingSparkle's place and, well, you have to go see for yourself.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 01:56 PM | Comments (23)
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Well, it certainly doesn't surprise me.

UPDATE: I am a moron.

UPDATE2: Friday open thread?

Posted by: Dave In Texas at 01:30 PM | Comments (12)
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