A Future Where Torture Isn't Wrong

Mr. Bunny was a bad, bad bunny. . .

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A Sacred Song for Christmas

There is a tradition of country singers performing sacred songs and Christmas carols. Even outlaws like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson have their gospel albums and holiday records.

Willie Nelson's 1979 classic, Pretty Paper, which the All Music Guide calls "one of the finest country holiday records ever released" is one of my Christmas favorites.

Now, Willie adds a new tune to his fine collection of sacred yuletide songs: "Let Not Mankind Bogart Love." This premiered last night on Stephen Colbert's A Colbert Christmas. Stephen is experiencing a Christmas crisis (trapped in his cabin by a ferocious bear), and Willie appears in his nativity set as the "fourth Wise Man."

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A Colbert Christmas: Willie Nelson Sings

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Campaign Update #357

Obama returns from his trip to Europe. McCain complains about media bias. Serious issues, handled in a serious manner.

Seriously.

Romney and Huckabee

And now, for some thoughtful, well-considered political discussion.

Liam was right all along about Romney:



Huckabee on how he'll beat McCain:

News and No News

Glenn Greenwald at Salon on the "Surge" you haven't heard about, and why:

Is there any distinction between what a "reporter" does and what a "pundit" does covering this campaign? There doesn't seem to be any.

As but one example, consider this new daily tracking poll today from Rasumussen Reports. At least according to this poll, it is true that there has been one candidate who has been genuinely surging in the last week or two among Democratic voters nationally -- John Edwards:

Edwards -- who, just one week ago, was 10 points behind Obama nationally among Democrats -- is now only two points behind him. Less than a month ago, he trailed Clinton by 29 points. Now it's 13 points. He is, by far, at his high point of support nationwide.

Yet to listen to media reports, Edwards doesn't even exist. His campaign is dead. He has no chance. They hate Edwards, hate his message, and thus rendered him invisible long ago, only now to declare him dead -- after he came in second place in the first caucus of the campaign.

There are certainly horse-race counterarguments to all of this. This is only one poll. Obama is ahead in New Hampshire, where his support has increased, etc. etc.

But I'm not focusing on the accuracy of horse-race predictions here, but instead, on the fact that the traveling press corps endlessly imposes its own narrative on the election, thereby completely excluding from all coverage plainly credible candidates they dislike (such as Edwards) while breathlessly touting the prospects of the candidates of whom they are enamored. Their predictions (i.e., preferences and love affairs) so plainly drive their press coverage -- the candidates they love are lauded as likely winners while the ones they hate are ignored or depicted as collapsing -- which in turn influences the election in the direction they want, making their predictions become self-fulfilling prophecies.

It's just all a completely inappropriate role for political reporters to play, yet it composes virtually the entirety of their election coverage.

And now for a newsflash from across the pond . . .

BBC: Recession in the US 'has arrived'
Times (London): Merrill calls US recession
Daily Telegraph: US recession is already here, warns Merrill
Scotsman: Banking giant warns US economy in recession

Meanwhile, back at the ranch . . .

New York Times: Bush Admits Economy Faces Challenges

“We cannot take growth for granted,” Mr. Bush said in a speech to a group of business leaders in which he acknowledged that “recent economic indicators have become increasingly mixed.”

On top of it all, the beloved Golden Globe Awards show has been canceled because of some scruffy, sushi-eating, latte-drinking, left-wing, pinko writers out on strike.

(In my book, anyone who can get an awards show canceled should be considered a HERO!)

But don't despair, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have returned.

Who Are the Other 2008 Presidential Candidates?

So far, most of the media coverage of the 2008 Presidential Campaign has focused on the top 3 candidates in each party: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards for the Democrats; Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and Ronald Reagan for the Republicans. But what about some of the other candidates?

I've mentioned Bill Richardson before. And Dr. Ron Paul has been something of an internet sensation, doing well in online polls and on YouTube. Here are some candidates you haven't been hearing much about. I didn't even realize most of them were running.

Candidate 1 - "If you want to learn how to build a house, build a house. Don't ask anybody, just build a house." Exactly. I may have found my candidate.

Candidate 2 - Unfortunately, he wasn't born in the United States.

Candidate 3 and Candidate 4 - Could make a strong Republican ticket.

Candidate 5 - Still not sure he's running. Would bring something fresh to the White House.

Candidate 6 - Would probably do well with women.

Candidate 7 - Would probably do well with women who like other women.

Candidate 8 - Usually does well with both men and women.

Candidate 9 - He could definitely hurt Tancredo.

Candidate 10 - He and Dodd Zod might split each other's support.

Candidate 11 - Would pull in some lawyers. (And old Trekkies.)

So, let's open up the debate. Can Zone readers get behind one of these candidates and help push him or her all the way to the Casa Blanca in 2008? Forget DailyKos. We're part of the Netroots, too!