We appreciate teevee’s “Mr. Spock,” the 79-year-old photographer Leonard Nimoy, for being a mensch who paid a lot of money to have Griffith Park Observatory rebuilt, and for sneaking in some Kohanic rabbi voodoo into the Star Trek show, and for being an ageless entertainer long after most people are in the rest home. But we especially appreciate this video of Nimoy describing a brief meeting with Barack Obama two years ago — because, you know, Barack is Spock. [YouTube]

You may have read on the Internet that this week’s big movie release is the “new” original Star Trek movie, and it is going to make millions of dollars. It is the latest manifestation of Hollywood studios’ race to abandon all creativity: after a popular movie series like Batman or Superman has run its course, just start over and make the first one again. Critics then praise the director’s “new vision,” and political writers note that all of the characters are famous politicians, secretly, in real life. Everyone remembers last year’s important Wall Street Journal column, “George Bush Jr. Is The Bat Man.” This year’s version? “Barack Obama is the Spock.” Steady yourself… MORE »

NASA, which means FAIL in the Moon Man language, has announced the doomed zillion-dollar replacement for the rust-bucket death-trap space shuttles that haven’t yet blown up won’t be ready until at least September of 2014, which means “never” in the Moon Man language. MORE »

• The Bush Administration has declared its intentions to rethink Iraq policy in the face of growing public discontent, possible Democratic congressional gains, and reality. [WP, NYT, LAT, WSJ]

• Fundraising may be added to the list of battles Democrats are winning. [WP, WSJ]
• Former House Clerk Jeff Trandahl and House Majority Leader John Boehner testified before the Ethics Committee and Pagefuckergate. Hastert aides Scott Palmer and Ted Van Der Meid prepare to take the fall. [WP, NYT]
• A hard-partying Maltese via Florida priest came forward to confirm that he was involved in “light touching” of a 12 year old Mark Foley. [WP, NYT]
• Both current President Bush and former President Clinton each raised a half-mil for their preferred Senate candidates in Virginia. Sen. George Allen did a little spin control on Bush’s remarks. [WP]
• Predator, Ghost in the Shell, Romulan Starships, and Kevin “Hollowman” Bacon — the future is now. [LAT, USAT]

• The exact instant that all the crooked congressmen you love to hate “jumped the shark.” [The Left Coaster]

• Another “top 10″ list, as long-irrelevant music magazine does cover story on soon to be irrelevant congressmen. [Think Progress]
• Larry Craig’s voting record reveals the old “it’s not gay if your balls don’t touch” urban legend is alive and well. [Pandagon]
• McCain on a Democratic Senate majority: “I think I’d just commit suicide.” [Political Wire]
• Americans fire more bullets in Iraq everyday than there are people in St. Paul, MN. [Hit & Run]
• Israel decides bullets are for suckers, is now murdering Palestinians with Klingon disruptors. [Cryptogon]
• Kim Jong-Il has the power of the atom in his hand and the work of the Member’s Only designers on his back. [The Cool Honey]
• Here is why John McCain won’t have to kill himself: the opposition party is the Democrats. [NYO]

• New DC based reality show tries to drum up buzz from bloggers, who think it’s “a big giant pile of who gives a fucking shit.” [Rock Creek Rambler]

• Mayoral candidates also crash and burn in trying to court bloggers. [Metroblogging DC]
• There’s no better way to remember the king’s last day than downing an obscene amount of cocktails. [Washington Cube]
• At least for a weekend, DC won’t have the highest concentration of nerds on the planet. [Last Second Thoughts]

Well, it’s being reported that Scooter Libby has officially tendered his resignation to both Vice President Cheney and President Bush. In fact, the resignation letter came in earlier today. There’s no doubt that the cushion of the President’s Early Morning Resignation Acceptance Chair was still discernibly warm. MORE »

Feel the need to weigh in on Peter Jennings but have nothing to say? Follow the example NJ Star-Ledger’s Matt Zoller Seitz and write what you know:

He was Mr. Spock to Brokaw’s folksy Bones McCoy and Rather’s impetuous Captain Kirk — an alien intelligence from the planet Canada, offering not a hug or even a reassuring pat on the shoulder, but a poker face that was accented, on rare occasions, by a faintly raised eyebrow.

Guess that would mean Bernie Shaw is Lt. Uhura. But mostly it means Mr. Seitz is in the wrong line of work should get out more.* MORE »