Spears Clan Set To Multiply

Those Spears's are fertile.

I can not imagine where Britney's decline ends. Sure its her sister, but I'm putting this one on her anyway. Fortunately, she'll be able to make money off of it.

At what point does the Lynne Spears parenting guidebook get permanently mothballed, instead of just "delayed indefinitely."

I know this isn't news, and I know I shouldn't be so amused by someone else's suffering, but I have come to believe that Britney Spears has been put on this earth for the sole purpose of making me laugh.

Debate Republicano

Say what you will about the Republican presidential candidates. They have at least been consistent in their disrespect for minorities during this election cycle. Before yesterday's debate, mass scheduling conflicts prevented a previously scheduled Univision debate and kept many away from historically black Morgan State University. While unconfirmed reports indicate that the missing candidates were all at a surprise birthday party for underdog Tom Tancredo, there are still many who believe that Republicans might not like minorities.

Not all of them, mind you. Mitt Romney, for instance, has worked hard to find employment opportunities for illegal immigrants.

I fear that showing up at last night's Univision debate might have been a tactical error. Obviously, they were forced to go a little light on the "we hate illegals" rhetoric, which might not have sat so well with some of their core constituencies.

It must be tough to be a Republican. Someone is always upset with you. You're either too racist, or not racist enough.

The Knicks Win

The Knicks beat the Nets last night for the second time in their last 1,432 meetings.

Isaiah came up with an unusual, but brilliant strategy. Apparently, he worked out a deal that the Nets would sit Jason Kidd if he promised to keep Marbury out. A little point guard quid pro quo. Thomas should do this with every team. Almost universally, the Knicks' opponent will be sitting the better player.

Wait. The latest report says that Kidd had a headache/was trying to force a trade and Marbury was mourning his father's death. Too bad. This would have been Isaiah's best trade yet.

Dodged That Bullet

I am officially downgrading my World War III Alert from code "Sometime next week" to code "Probably not until the New Year. Probably"



Why am I so optimistic, you might ask? Well, I'm sure you've heard about the National Intelligence Estimate that more or less refuted everything Bush has been telling us about Iran's nuclear program. In short, the Estimate judges that, contrary to the 2005 report:



1) Iran suspended its program to develop nuclear weapons in 2003.

2) Iran has a reduced interest in producing any nuclear weapons at all.

3) Iran would be unlikely to be able to produce a nuclear weapon until 2015.



Good. That gives me 8 years to get my affairs in order.



Most interestingly, the Estimate believes that:

Tehran's decisions are guided by a cost-benefit approach rather than a rush
to a weapon irrespective of the political, economic, and military costs.
This, in turn, suggest that some combination of threats of intensified
international scrutiny and pressures, along with opportunities for Iran to
achieve its security, prestige, and goals for regional influence in other ways,
might--if perceived by Iran's leaders as credible--prompt Tehran to extend the
current halt to its nuclear weapons program.

So...Iran might, in fact, be open to more of a "carrot and stick" proposal, as opposed to the "beaten with a stick" option that Bush likes so much.



CNN reports on Bush's bold policy announcement as a result of the findings:

"no change"

Which makes sense in Bush-land. The President has a history of dismissing countervailing evidence or using it as support for his positions. I am a little surprised he doesn't want to make even a cosmetic change to his policy. Even the Iraq Study Group's findings led to the New Way Forward. I mean, that policy had the word new in it, even if it did seem a little familiar.



Not that I'm going to start singing the Iranian national anthem in the street or anything, but the estimate seems to indicate that, contrary to what the President would prefer us to believe, Tehran has listened to international pressure over the last four years. It seems like this would be a great opportunity to push beyond the "axis of evil" rhetoric, help Iran achieve its regional goals, and put this nuclear weapons thing to bed. As long as we monitor Iran closely, that should help us...avert...war. Oh.


Oh man. Bush must be really pissed. Now he's going to have to go ahead and work on a whole new reason to bomb someone.

I feel ya, buddy. We'll find you something to blow up.