Observances and Observations

With tomorrow being the observed date of Memorial Day, the day on which we formally observe the sacrifices of those brave soldiers who have died for our freedoms, we also observe those who are unnecessarily dying still:

In the period from Memorial Day 2006 through Saturday, 980 soldiers and Marines died in Iraq, compared to 807 deaths in the previous year.

It calls to mind the famous quote by now-Senator John Kerry, then a soldier home from Vietnam testifying to bring an end to that war, "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

Here is Al Gore on The Daily Show discussing his new book, The Assault on Reason. Here is the New York Times' review of The Assault on Reason. Now, buy The Assault on Reason.

Nebraska & Iowa: New Nebraska Network's Ryan Anderson remains perplexed about Chuck Hagel's 2008 electoral plans, be they a Senate re-election bid, a Republican or independent (Vice) Presidential bid, or retirement from politics. (If I had to bet money on a prediction, I would go with running mate to NYC Mayor Bloomberg on an independent ticket, for reasons I have earlier outlined.) Meanwhile, Anderson notes this poll question asked of Iowa Republicans regarding withdrawal from Iraq:

5. Do you favor a withdrawal of all United States military from Iraq within the next six months? (Republicans Only)
Yes 54%
No 37%
Undecided 9%

A majority of Iowa Republicans favor a total withdrawal from Iraq relatively soon. I take it as another sign that Tom Harkin is pretty safe for re-election.

Kentucky: Draft Forgy highlights more discord among Kentucky Republicans courtesy of Mitch McConnell, including this Louisville Courier-Journal article, and how it could further lead to a Senate primary challenge for McConnell. I do believe that if McConnell flat-out told KY-Gov GOP primary loser Anne Northup to be at the GOP unity rally following the gubernatorial primary, she would have been there. But she didn't show, and I take that as a sign that McConnell certainly won't be doing as much as he could to help Ernie Fletcher's re-election bid. Larry Forgy ought to make McConnell pay by stepping up to him in a Senate primary.

I have never seen anything quite like this. Former Bush Chief of Staff Andrew Card gets booed to the Nth degree as he accepts an honorary degree at the University of Massachusetts' commencement ceremony.