Ex-Senator Rick Santorum is being a real ninny these days in Philadelphia, where tonight he will lecture at two colleges as part of neo-cunt David Horowitz’s infamous “Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week.” The talks will be a rare opportunity for Santorum these days to voice those prosaic maxims of moderation for which he is revered. For example, he told the Philadelphia Inquirer today that, “You see academics and Muslim student associations that want to shut down discussion of the fact that the enemy is using Islam as a rallying cry for terrorism.” How’s that for deft public diplomacy vis-a-vis the American Muslim community? Get this voice of reason a regular column in a major city newspaper and we’ll have those browns sucking the Jesus juice in no time.

Oh hey, look at that — the Inquirer IS giving Santorum a regular column! MORE »

The war in Iraq is still winnable, says the Bush Administration. The movers and shakers are all in Crawford, Texas winning it right this second, in fact. But we need new, bold ideas from our new, bold Defense Secretary, Robert Gates. Let’s hear one of those ideas: MORE »

• Inside Politics: Gillespie complains to The New York Times: “[T]he White House would appreciate the opportunity to provide a fuller accounting of a two-way discussion.”. . . Woodward predicts Cheney versus Hillary in ‘08. [WT]
• Names & Faces: Sen. Lamar Alexander and Rep. Steny Hoyer honored for their support of musician’s rights. [WP]
• Lloyd Grove’s Lowdown: Bush’s nominee to be ambassador to the Netherlands led Ameriquest Capital, which is sponsoring the Rolling Stones tour. [NYDN]
• Page Six: Bill Clinton to speak in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. [NYP]

Predictably, minor controversy has been stirred by news of the Rolling Stones’ anti-war song, “Sweet Neo-Con,” and minor controversy is precisely what the news deserves. Clearly a somewhat desperate move to remain relevant, it’s at least a year too late. (Technorati suggests that the only neo-cons being discussed these days are, in fact, the sweet ones.) Or perhaps we’re being cynical. Maybe the song is a genuine artistic product that emerged out of writing what they know: a song by old white men about old white men. MORE »