1) Rudy Giuliani is apparently no longer “very, very comfortable” with the idea of his wife attending Cabinet meetings. In a statement, Rudy clarified:

"Obviously, she will not be a Cabinet member or attend most Cabinet meetings - if any. But she will pursue a campaign to educate Americans on preventing illness and promoting overall health."

Glad that's all cleared up.

2) My apparent university-affiliated emailer who has no sympathy for Tony Snow and wishes cancer on all Republicans has disavowed the colorful message that came from his email account. In a follow-up email he, he wrote:

Hello,

I’m sorry, but I’m not sure what you’re referring to. I use three different classrooms with communal computers and am frequently using several different email accounts from them. However, I have not visited your site and had a hard time backtracking to find it. It seems I must have left Outlook explorer still available in one of the classrooms and any emails sent from it during those hours may have gone through my account.

However, for my own records, I would like to know exactly what was sent—since it seems it is now attributed to me.

Sorry again for the confusion and inconvenience,

Such carelessness! I responded,

Below and attached is what was sent. You'll want to be careful about that, I guess, if people are sending that kind of stuff in your name.

In what is presumably the last email this individual and I will ever exchange (oh, the times we had!), he wrote:

Thanks for sending it. I don't think I'll be logging into my emails in classrooms anymore.

Glad that's all cleared up!

Compliments? Complaints? Contact me at Soxblog@aol.com.

My almost-weekly Townhall column is up and it deals with Rudy Giuliani’s strange comment that he would be “very, very comfortable” with his wife attending Cabinet meetings.

I didn’t address what the political fallout from this will be. I think Rudy’s Achilles Heel is his tendency to go eccentric. Comments like this don’t help.

Compliments? Complaints? Contact me at Soxblog@aol.com.

This was the week John McCain got his groove back.

He made major inroads with conservative opinion leaders and bloggers -- stood up to the Democrats’ “surrender strategy” -- and avoided some potential landmines laid by his opponents.

While many pundits are prematurely predicting the demise of his campaign, McCain is just starting to hit his stride.

How did it happen?  Here’s a quick synopsis of the week ...

This past weekend, McCain held several town hall meetings in New Hampshire.  I flew up to see the campaign first-hand, attend some town hall meetings, and chat with McCain on the Straight Talk Express.  To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a guy with a pretty good sense of humor about his relationship with the conservative blogosphere ...

... Few candidates allow the unfettered access that McCain actually encourages.  But being accessible to the establishment media is one thing; talking to conservative bloggers is quite another. 

Candidates who would happily do a sit-down with David Broder, might scoff at the idea of having a blogger interview (and film) them. Not so with McCain. 

But, perhaps, the most important reason McCain's team is wise to encourage journalists and bloggers to travel with him to places like New Hampshire, is that it's a chance to see what conservative voters outside the Beltway really care about ...

The above interview (along with several others we conducted) made it clear that the issues which have plagued McCain among conservative pundits and "insiders" have not resonated with the voters in states like New Hampshire. 

But let's be honest; Opinion leaders do matter.  That's why McCain was smart to host a conference call for over a dozen top conservative bloggers early in the week (this outreach seems to be a strategic change, which I believe has a lot to do with McCain's good week, this week). 

He also appeared on several conservative talk radio shows, including: Bill Bennett, Michael Medved, and Laura Ingraham. 

But while reaching out to conservative opinion leaders is good, nothing ingratiates you to conservatives more than attacking liberals. 

On Wednesday, McCain launched a petition stating that “the supplemental appropriations bill that passed the Senate on March 27, calling for a date certain withdrawal from Iraq, is nothing more than a guaranteed date of surrender.”

He also had words with Hillary Clinton over an amendment she wanted to tack onto emergency funding for Iraq and Afghanistan. McCain has long been an anti-pork proponent crusader, and in fact, during my time with him on the bus, he discussed how Ronald Reagan would be very upset at Republicans because of spending:

The momentum he gained this week also served to eclipse the 5-year anniversary of President Bush’s signing campaign finance reform.

Sure, Rudy closed the week strong by securing the endorsement of Steve Forbes, but as NRO’s Kathryn Jean Lopez  wrote: “This week may go to McCain.”

But the real reason it was McCain's week is that he's the only one who can be happy about this graph. 

I emailed Michael Yon asking for his thoughts on the goings on in Tal Afar. Here is his reply:

Dean,

The news from Tal Afar was very sad, but not very surprising. The civil war first became obvious to me in early 2005, and I started writing about it in February 2005. It has been growing ever since. Violence on the streets is severe. The unit I was just with, the1-4 CAV from Fort Riley, found at least three bodies in their small area of operations yesterday. They found 14 in the previous week. That's just one small area of Baghdad. That said, I saw clear evidence that the violence decreased in the 1-4’s sector over the past month. They still find bodies daily, but fewer bodies. Iraqi families began to move back into their homes just this week.

The civil war is very real. It's not an apparition or a politically-contrived term. The flames of civil war are real, and the flames were not made hotter by calling them fire. It is what it is. But the term "civil war" does not describe the entirety of the violence here. Yes, the civil war is real, but Iraq is far from a state of anarchy. The government truly is becoming stronger. I spoke with some Baghdad police yesterday, and they actually brought up the topic of the attacks in Tal Afar. These Baghdad police brought up the apparent fact that the Tal Afar police engaged in reprisal attacks and murdered civilians. The Baghdad police were disgusted, disgusted that Iraqi police in Tal Afar apparently had murdered innocent women and children.

Yes, the civil war is very real, but not everyone here is a party to it. There are many, many Iraqis who want to see their country come together. I see these Iraqis all the time.

Michael

Once again, Michael Yon is a citizen journalist who depends on public support to be in Iraq. His website can be found here, his “Tip Jar” here.

I was at the Media Research Center's 20th Anniversary Dinner last night, where the media watchdog group gave out its less-than-coveted Dishonors Awards for the year's worst moments in liberal reporting.

The night was a laugh riot, as it always is, and a celebration of the fact that now, 20 years after MRC's founding, there are many more people in the media criticism game and many more ways to make conservative voices heard above the leftist din of the MSM.

Katie and I had some audio difficulties with my part of the video, so I made a bit of a highlight reel for you from the dinner featuring Michael Steele (running again, by the way!), Pat Sajak, Herman Cain, Mary Matalin, El Rushbo, and of course the heavy hitters of journalism-- Katie Couric and Rosie O'Donnell.

Update:  "It is finished."

 John Murtha supports the draft ...

... That's right, young people: The Democrats are the party of the draft. 

Juxtapose Murtha's interview with this clip of John McCain (from last weekend in New Hampshire): 

Congressman John Campbell will be guest hosting today's edition of the Hugh Hewitt Show. The show will air from 3 pm to 6 pm PDT (6 pm - 9 pm EDT). During the broadcast a link to an internet simulcast can be found here.

From yesterday's interview with accomplished historian, the transcript of which is here:

HH: Now I want to turn to the Commentary article available at Opinionjournal.com today, it’s linked at Hughhewitt.com. Right in the center of it, you write about the third lesson from the expert on the Algerian conflict that counterinsurgency must project a sense of inevitable victory…

AH: Right.

HH: The local populace had to see the military and the civilian authority as the ultimate winner. I agree, I worked closely with Nixon in ’78-’79-’80, used to read Robert Thompson’s book on Malaysia. It was always that inevitability. And the Congress killed us this week on this point, didn’t they?

AH: It was definitely…and I don’t know if it was a fatal stab in the back, but it was definitely a stab in the back. And it just goes to show the kind of uphill work that the Bush administration is going to have to do, which, I mean, let’s be frank, which they’ve avoided doing up until now. They have…you’ve got General Petraeus, and by the way, this is not unrelated to the Iran issue.

HH: Of course not, yup.

AH: I think one of the reasons why Iran has acted in the kind of provocative way which it has this last week, was precisely because they were feeling the heat from the Petraeus offensive. That’s my term for it. I don’t like the term surge. Surge, I think, doesn’t describe what’s happening there. This is really the Petraeus offensive, and a whole different way of conducting the war, including cutting off the Iranian support, and going headfirst, and really making sure that that kind of support is undercut. And I think the Iranians are feeling the heat, and that is one reason why they’ve tried to drive this wedge.

HH: You know, the Petraeus…

AH: But yeah, but to come back to your question, I think in some ways here, what you are really seeing is that we’ve got a general who finally understands and gets it about the counterinsurgency in Iraq. What we need is an administration that’s going to deal with the counterinsurgency at home, which is taking root in the Democratic Congress.

The audio is here.

VerumSerum and The Sapper Lounge have some key updates on Iran. We need RegimeChangeIran back, and you can help..

I will be guest hosting the Hugh Hewitt Show today from 3PM to 6PM pacific time. You can listen to one of 98 radio stations nation wide that broadcast the show or listen online here.

I am sure a knowledgeable source on the issues will be a welcome change for Hugh's listeners...

My pal in Ramadi, Colonel Don of the USMC, cc'd me on his note to my pal Dennis Prager.  I have Don's permission to post it:

Dear Dennis,

I'm a long time listener to your radio show, although my current job assignment precludes me from being as devoted a listener as I would like at this time. Also, I've had the great privilege to meet you in person on two occasions when you came to speak in San Diego, a few years ago. I was the person that told you that my son and I were both Marine Reservists who served in Iraq during 2003.

I'm writing to you from Iraq and since it's Friday, and you will be hosting the "Happiness Hour" today, I wanted to let you know that I'm one happy Marine, even though I'm far away from home, my family, friends and civilian employer, for a one year tour of duty. As a long time listener to the Happiness Hour, I know first-hand about the importance that gratitude plays in one being a happy person.

First of all, I'm thankful for being a happy person, because I know how important it is, not just for my own well-being alone, but as a leader of young Marines and Sailors, I know that I am personally responsible for the well-being of my Marines and Sailors as well. I know that the personal example I provide my troops, through my words and deeds, effects the well-being of those around me. Believe it or not, one can be happy, even in an austere and sometimes miserable environment, such as that to be found in a combat zone. Your faith in God, your buddies who "watch your back" and a good sense of humor helps to sustain you in such situations. It's been said that "there's no such thing as an atheist in a combat zone." I believe this to be true. That's why it distresses me so whenever some people attempt to initiate efforts to abolish Chaplains from the military services.

When I'm home in California, I'm thankful for my civilian employment, that provides my family with our livelihood.

I'm thankful for the love of a good woman, as well as my children, extended family, friends and acquaintances. They all make life's journey more sweet and memorable. Even here in Iraq, they are with me.

I'm thankful for the freedom we enjoy and the comforts (one should say luxuries) that most of us usually take for granted. I'm thankful for good art, good literature, good music, good food, good wine and beer and, on very special occasions, a good cigar.

Whenever I'm deployed with the Marine Corps to a combat zone I find that what I'm grateful for becomes more basic:

I'm thankful everyday that I'm alive.

I'm thankful for sunrises and sunsets. You should see the sun set over the Euphrates River. It's one of the most beautiful things my eyes have ever seen.

I'm thankful for the moon and stars in a clear night sky.

I'm thankful whenever the air I breathe doesn't smell or taste like dust. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to dust. Who's ever heard of a Marine who's allergic to dust and grass? Well, at least there's no grass anywhere near where I'm located. LOL. Last time I went to Iraq, I developed a case of asthma that took me two and one-half years to recuperate from. I'm glad to be serving my country again in Iraq, even though my asthma may return because of my near constant exposure to dust. Every time I'm in a vehicle convoy I taste dust, even when I'm wrapped up like the mummy.

I'm thankful for bottled water to drink.

I'm thankful for the good food we eat here in our field dining facilities. As my 1st Sergeant said, "they feed us like it may be our last meal."

I'm thankful for a clean, dry bed to sleep in.

I'm thankful I don't have to live in a tent this time.

I'm thankful for clean laundry and clothing that doesn't feel or smell like dirt.

I'm thankful for running water. That way I can at least wash my face and shave every morning.

I'm thankful for flush toilets, no matter how fragile the plumbing system.

I'm thankful for air conditioning and ice cream when it's 120F outside.

I'm thankful for mail. E-mail's OK, but you really know you're special when someone takes the time and trouble to sit down with pen and paper and write you a letter or send you a card. It' like they're giving of themselves to you. You really know who cares about you when you receive "Snail Mail." What's particularly moving to me is when you receive mail from total strangers, like when you receive cards and letters from school children and church groups that you don't know, but they know you because of your family members and friends.

I'm thankful that I have access to a telephone, so that I am able to call home on occasion and hear the voices of my loved ones.

I'm thankful for the all volunteer military. I'm glad we have a military of professionals. There's nothing worse than to be in a war zone with a bunch of malcontents.

I'm thankful for my fellow service members. They are truly "America's best and brightest", no matter what some people say.

I'm thankful that most Americans support the troops.

I'm thankful for the selfless veteran's groups that made us feel welcome and appreciated during our transit to Iraq; at midnight at a virtually deserted airport in Bangor, Maine, even when the temperature was zero degrees outside.

I'm thankful that unlike during Vietnam, this time the anti-war protesters aren't spitting on the troops or calling us "baby killers."

I'm thankful for the American Taxpayer, who has bought us good weapons and equipment, with their hard earned money. This equipment may one day save my life, or the lives of one of my men or women. I never take the generosity of the American People for granted.

I'm thankful for "up-armored" vehicles that are designed to help protect us from bullets and roadside bombs (known as improvised explosive devices or IEDs). I'm also thankful that I've not had to put it to test yet.

I'm thankful that whenever I've heard shooting, except for a couple of occasions, it wasn't in my general direction. On those other occasions, I'm grateful that I've had ballistic glass and plenty of sandbags around me.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve My Country. I pray that my efforts will make my country and the world a safer place to live.

I'm thankful for, and humbled by the fact, that through my direct efforts, I will have a significant impact on the future success of a nation that is in the process of becoming a democracy.

I'm thankful that I was born and raised in the United States of America, the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. We Americans have been blessed with such a unique and special country to call home. The United States is truly an exceptional nation that has been a blessing to the entire world. When you see America's power amassed in war, like I have, it's no wonder that America's enemies should tremble at our strength and power. At the same time, there is no more generous country than the United States of America. As the Marines of the 1st Marine Division from Camp Pendleton, CA say: there is "no greater friend and no worse enemy." I wish America's greatness and "manifest destiny", as well as the values of our Judeo-Christian values system which are the foundation of Western Civilization, were still taught with pride in our public schools.

I'm thankful for those brave Americans that have preceded me. They sacrificed so much for us. "All gave some, and some gave their all." "For those who have fought for it, life has a special flavor that the protected never know."

I'm thankful that most of my fellow citizens "get it" with regards to war in Iraq and the Global War on Terror.

I'm thankful that my Commander-in-Chief, President George W. Bush, has the courage of convictions, even when the decisions he makes are difficult and frequently not popular. We need more leaders like him.

I'm thankful for my faith in God which sustains me through good times and bad.

I'm thankful for my friend Hugh Hewitt. (who even springs for lunch on occasion. LOL)

And last, but certainly not least, I'm thankful for Dennis Prager, a gentleman who helps keep me focused on the most important things in life. Just yesterday, one my Iraqi interpreters, who is from Baghdad, told me that most of his Iraqi friends desperately want to know about America and Americans. I told him that Dennis Prager taught me that everything that Americans value can be found on a coin: "Liberty, "In God We Trust" and E Pluribus Unum" (out of many one).

The world needs more Dennis Pragers and Hugh Hewitts.

God Bless you and your listeners, and God Bless America. God shed His grace on thee.

"Ramadi Don"

P. S. In case you were wondering about the time difference, I sent this e-mail at about 6:40 PM, Friday Evening.

 

Erick Erickson writes at Red State:

Hugh thinks Al Mohler, James Dobson, and I are religious bigots.

No, I don't.  James Dobson and Al Mohler are friends of mine, and I admire both men a great deal.  I have never written or said anything remotely like that, and I reject that.  I did discuss Mitt Romney's faith with Al Mohler for my book, and his comments are recorded there.  They are not bigoted.  They are very careful articulations of narrow concerns, and an objective discussion of the differences between faiths, nested in an openness to voting for Romney and the declaration that "the issue is the worldview held by the candidate and what difference that would make materially in his leadership of the nation."  Dr. Dobson has said nothing except the empirically true statement that Romney's LDS faith will be a problem for some evangelicals. I wrote the book because of the dangers of having questions about Romney's faith become occasions for attacks on the Mormon Church which will then become wider attacks on the idea of people of faith being in the public square.  The assault on people of faith being full participants in the politics of this country has been underway for decades, and the secular left celebrates every attack on Romney's faith as part of the effort to turn the weak flank of the coalition of people of faith that has operated on so many issues, including most recently and visibly, the defense of marriage.

Dobson and Mohler are in fact models for the appropriate way to discuss Romney's faith.  So is Chuck Colson. So is Archbishop Chaput.  So are Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meachem, and all of them are quoted in the book.  It isn't bigoted to note the vast gulf between what Mormons believe and what evangelicals and Catholics believe.  It is bigoted to say that Mormon beliefs disqualify Mormons from politics or office.  It is also outside of the American tradition to question presidential candidates about the theological positions of their church or personal faith.  We aren't electing a pope or a pastor-in-chief, but a president.  Only religious bigots argue that belief in the supernatural makes a candidate unfit for office.  The evidence for these assertions is voluminous and all in the book.  If you have misgivings about voting for Romney because of his faith, Iurge you to read it.  If you hesitate to articulate those concerns out loud, I suggest there's an internal warning light going off in your mind that is saying to you "That sounds a lot like anti-Semites sound?  Do I want to sound --or far more importantly-- think that way?"

I blasted Erickson a few days back for a specific paragraph he had written in his review of my book.  I then had him on the radio show and he backpeddled furiously from the obvious flaws in this paragaph which in fact made him sound bigoted --specifically the assertion that increased Mormon participation in politics in response to a Romney candidacy was an occasion for probing Romney's theology, and much worse, a reason for "concern" as though Mormons were some sort of fifth column at work in the country.  Read it for yourself, and then read the interview, especially this exchange:

HH: [Y]ou seem to endorse the idea that previously illegitimate questions can be raised, simply because they’re on the lips of some people you know. For example, could we raise anti-Semitic slurs of supporters of Joe Lieberman, like, you know, don’t you people run Hollywood and all the banks? Aren’t you really in charge of…

EE: That’s not what I’m saying, and I’m sorry if you took that from me. What I’m saying is that there are people who are going to be raising these questions, and so…

HH: And they ought to be slapped down.

EE: Well, exactly.

HH: Shouldn’t you slap down bigotry?

EE: I agree with you, but I really took from the tone of your book, and maybe it was my mistake, that we should just start saying this is not acceptable, and we should say that, probably, but at the same time, we need to recognize it’s going to happen, and we need to be telling people that this isn’t right, that we shouldn’t be judging this man by his religion.

It is bigoted to say I will not vote for a Mormon because Mormons believe [fill in the blank]. Neither Dobson nor Mohler has said anything like that.  Jacob Weisberg writing in Slate has.  Damon Linker writing in The New Republic has. It was also bigoted to say that increased Mormon participation in politics is a reason for "concern."  Erick wrote that, not Dobson or Mohler, and neither ever would.

Bottom line:  If you want to study up on the Mormons, fine.  There is nothing biogted about genuine curioisty, and certainly there is nothing bigoted about a spirited debate between two faiths about which one is right and which one wrong.  But Romney isn't the guy to ask for input on that debate, and asking him isn't really curiosity about Mormonism, it is a sneak attack on his candidacy by attacking his faith as different from most Americans and thus of "concern."  Attempting also to disqualify Romney because he won't debate theology or answer personal questions about his religious practices is like saying you wouldn't vote for Rudy because he won't tell you when he last went to Confession: Goofy, and yes, bigoted, as in the Webster's definition of the word: "extreme intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion." 

Sorry to be gone so long. I was in and out of the office all day yesterday, running around, and attended the Media Research Center's Dishonors Awards ceremony until late in the night last night.

I'll have a video up shortly.

A perfectly charming email appeared in my Inbox this morning. Under the subject line “Tony Snow”, my correspondent wrote:

“Honestly, why should we feel sympathy for him? He’s yet one more liar and defender of this idiot regime. If it were a democrat with HIV, I’m sure the Christian conservatives would have a whole lot of nice things to say. Too bad republican cancer isn’t contagious.”

Because the author’s email traced him to academia (there’s a shocker), he was easy enough to identify even though he predictably left his message unsigned. I urged him in a follow-up email to at least man-up and own his vile sentiments. Alas, again predictably, I have not heard back from him.

I imagine him right now worrying that I will publicly identify him and cause him an unknown amount of public opprobrium and humiliation. Alas, he has nothing to fear. As I wrote earlier in the week, the internet is a known lair for anonymous cowards. I wouldn’t want to do anything that would deny this college instructor and others like him their preferred hideout.

IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE have been asking in recent days why our politics have grown so bitter. Generally, I find such inquiries tedious. Politics has always been a blood sport. Just ask Julius Caesar. Or the Senators who butchered him.

Things haven’t gone much differently in America. One of our founding fathers killed another of our founding fathers in a duel. George W. Bush isn’t the first president to be routinely compared to a primate. Abraham Lincoln’s critics often accorded him the same honor.

Still, there are some differences today. It used to be tough to get a letter to the editor published in a prominent newspaper. Furthermore, the papers edited their letter sections for quality and to make sure the letters’ authors were genuine. They also of course checked for ideological conformity.

Today, anyone can get the equivalent of a “letter to the editor” published on the blog of their choice. They can also do so anonymously. One would have anticipated that some keyboard cowards would appreciate the advent of such a forum. What has been a moderate surprise is how these boards have been a magnet for the keyboard cowards and how great their number has been compared to sensible people. One has to wonder how these people got their jollies before anonymously spewing venom became an option.

The other thing that’s different is the relentless intensity of each and every news cycle. Virtually every issue gets more attention than it deserves. Except of course for issues that really matter like terrorism. And every opinion that gets expressed must be expressed with unseemly vigor to cut through the incredible bounty of other opinions out there.

These conditions have caused some noticeable ticks to leak into our public discourse. When asked by Barbara Walters whether his wife could attend Cabinet meetings, Rudy Giuliani asserted that he was “very, very comfortable” with that idea. Note the extra “very”. As if embracing such a ludicrous concept with one “very” wasn’t enough, Rudy felt like he needed a second “very” to close the deal.

Similarly, Andrew Sullivan in commenting on American Idol asserted that “it's very, very important to subvert this compulsive (?) but far too self-important show.” And yes, Andrew Sullivan, the self-styled re-inventor of conservativism and the world’s last true conservative did just castigate something else for being self-important. Putting aside that pettiness, I’m still unsure as to why it’s “very important” to sink American Idol let alone “very, very important.” I’ve emailed Andrew for clarification on this point but have yet to hear back from him. Understandably enough – a man of Andrew’s import is presumably quite busy. In the absence of a response, I can only assume he would call the closing of Gitmo “very, very, very, very, very important.”

GIVING CREDIT WHERE IT’S DUE, Andrew’s never shrunk from vigorously and openly embracing his positions. He may be at times vexing, but he’s certainly no coward.

Although there’s nothing we can do to drive away the cowards who currently pollute our public dialogue, I do have a modest suggestion for our own comment boards. If you’re saying something that’s insulting or controversial or “provocative,” sign the comment with your real name and your hometown. In short, shed the cloak of anonymity.

If you’re uncomfortable attaching your identity to the sentiment your expressing, then you might want to reconsider whether it’s appropriate for you to make such a comment in a public forum.

Comments? Compliments? Contact me at Soxblog@aol.com.