Afghanistan War Now Our Longest Ever? Not Yet

The war in Afghanistan has now lasted 104 months, besting for length the Vietnam war, and now standing as the longest war in American history, says much of the press.

American forces invaded Afghanistan in October 2001, Kabul fell that November, and America’s attention shifted to the war in Iraq. It wasn’t until after the 2007 troop surge in Iraq and, after that, the 2008 election that America refocused its attention on Afghanistan, but our troops were there all along.

But Richard Holbrooke, President Obama’s special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, points out that the Afghanistan war is …

Palin Gets It Wrong About Thomas; Has Nixon’s “Jew Counter” As Top Aide

Sarah Palin has taken to Twitter to denounce both Helen Thomas for her remarks, and the press for supporting them. Only problem is, the press did not support them.

Her Tweet–

–just isn’t true.

Mediaite’s Tommy Christopher was in the White House press room and can testify:

I was in the White House briefing room today, and I can tell you that Palin’s tweet couldn’t be further from the truth.

That doesn’t appear to matter much to Palin, since she sent her tweet Saturday night, when the bulk of the White House press corps had probably not even …

On Monday’s Radio Show…

• Alan discusses the Helen Thomas controversy with White House Press Corps member Bill Press, whose latest book is Toxic Talk.

• Are pro-oil Republicans underestimating the impact of the BP disaster? Alan analyzes Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour’s state of denial.

• Can incumbents survive? Alan takes an early look at tomorrow’s key elections.…

Rand Paul Misstates Americans With Disabilities Act

In a weekend op-ed piece, Kentucky GOP Senate candidate Rand Paul continued to defend his position that businesses should be able to discriminate if they want, and likened his views to those of Martin Luther King, Jr.  He also defends his position on the Americans with Disabilities Act, but does so by misstating how it actually works.
(h/t Greg Sargent)

…it’s highly unlikely that a “small business in a two story building” would ever have to put in a “costly elevator.” The Americans With Disabililties Act specifically exempts most buildings of this size.

Paul has repeatedly used this …

Liz Cheney Has Brief Encounter With Reality

by Thomas Wellborn

Liz Cheney has been sinking her claws into the Obama administration on many issues lately, including current incidents involving Israel and Palestine.  Cheney:

“President Obama is contributing to the isolation of Israel, and sending a clear signal to the Turkish-Syrian-Iranian axis that their methods for ostracizing Israel will succeed.”

However, on Sunday, Ms. Cheney “suffered” from a brief lapse of reality when she suddenly and unexpectedly acknowledged George W. Bush’s role of responsibility for Hamas’ near-occupation of Gaza.

Bush’s action in support of Fatah was defeated, and led to the Hamas takeover of Gaza, which ultimately …

Helen Thomas To Retire

Helen Thomas, under fire for her comments about Israel, has announced that she is retiring immediately.

Veteran reporter Helen Thomas, who has covered the White House since the John F. Kennedy administration, is retiring immediately following her controversial statements about Israel, Hearst Newspapers reports.

Thomas, 89. became a columnist for Hearst newspapers after leaving UPI, where she worked for decades.…

Musicians Ask Republicans To Stop Using Their Music

There is a pattern of Republicans using artists to promote their campaigns and causes, and the artists responding with cease-and-desist orders.

Senate candidate Chuck DeVore (R-CA) got burned for using for using altered-lyric version of Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer” and “She Just Wants To Dance” for his campaign’s Web ads. David Byrne is suing Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL) for using “Road To Nowhere” in a Web ad during his previous Republican Senate primary fight, and of course, as [Politico] reported yesterday, Rush cut to the chase and told Senate nominee Rand Paul (R-KY) to stop playing “Tom …

Where The Tea Party Meets The Democratic Party

Politico reports that key tea partiers are in sync with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other liberals, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates (pictured) in wanting to find ways to reduce the Pentagon budget.

Although generally hawkish and conservative with a libertarian streak — “we’re for strong defense” is an oft-repeated mantra in the movement — tea party leaders and allies contacted by POLITICO said that both fairness and common sense dictate that the military budget be scrutinized for such cuts, a view that puts them in sync with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and some of the most liberal members …

Should Helen Thomas Be Fired, Or Be Given A Chance To Clarify Her Statements?

Talk show hosts and politicians say things all the time that are crazy, deranged, and offensive.  Helen Thomas, the Hearst White House columnist, has inflamed much of the Western world with her comments that Israel should “get the hell out of Palestine” and “go home” to “Poland and Germany and America and everywhere else.”

Thomas then issued an apology:

Helen Thomas issued the following statement today: “I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East …

Arizona Children Win; Steve Blair Loses

By The River Wanders

Public response to the events that recently took place at Miller Valley Elementary School in Prescott, Arizona has been intense. Posts strongly decrying the decision to “lighten” the faces of Miller students who posed for the school’s mural included mine – Mean And Green In Prescott, Arizona – and one from fellow writer Jay Winston – Tough Love: An Open Letter To The State Of Arizona.

However, there’s an exciting turn of events in this situation: Miller Valley Elementary officials will be restoring the mural to its original color scheme.

Seems Steve Blair is losing …

Fear Not!

by Gabe Berman

Gabe is a freelance writer for the Miami Herald and author of Live Like a Fruit Fly

As Seen in the Bookstore…

Michelle Malkin was recently on the front cover of Townhall  – a self-described fresh, conservative and intelligent magazine.

The headline reads: The Left’s Most Wanted: Michelle Malkin  – With her take-no-prisoners reporting she has liberals running scared.

Scared?

Hardly.

More like horrified.

And maybe even a little embarrassed.

Embarrassed by our fellow Americans who mask their greed and bigotry as good ol’ Christian values.  Actually, it’s just plain insulting.…