Conservatives Are Such Jokers  —  In 1960, John F. Kennedy, who had been shocked by the hunger he saw in West Virginia, made the fight against hunger a theme of his presidential campaign.  After his election he created the modern food stamp program, which today helps millions of Americans get enough to eat.

Rockefeller Disputes White House Claim That He Was 'Fully Briefed' On Secret Torture Opinion  —  Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman John Rockefeller (D-WV) reacted angrily yesterday to the New York Times' revelation that the Bush administration gave the CIA secret approval in 2005 to use harsh interrogation techniques.

The Republican Collapse  —  Modern conservatism begins with Edmund Burke.  What Burke articulated was not an ideology or a creed, but a disposition, a reverence for tradition, a suspicion of radical change.  —  When conservatism came to America, it became creedal.

Matthews says Bush administration has "finally been caught in their criminality"  —  Playing Hardball with the Prez  —  "Hardball" host Chris Matthews addresses attendees at Thursday night's ten-year anniversary of "Hardball," which took place at the Decatur House in Washington, D.C.

Peggy Noonan's Open Eyes  —  I've long enjoyed Peggy Noonan's work (except for one dreadful book even she must regret writing).  I don't always agree with her, but she represents for me that brand of blue-state conservatism that came of age in the Reagan era, one that was often Catholic …

Limbaugh leaves probation better, richer  —  No, Sen. Tom Harkin, radio talker Rush Limbaugh isn't back on drugs!  —  So says the state of Florida.  And Limbaugh himself, who told Page Two, as he enters his last month on probation for a narcotics arrest, that he doesn't even miss getting high and now feels like a better person.

Dems Postpone Rollout Of Controversial Wiretapping Bill  —  Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), the House Majority Leader, postponed a press conference announcing new reforms of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act after progressive lawmakers banded together and said they would fight any legislation …

Cheers and Jeers for S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom  —  First the cheers.  San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has declared the war on drugs a failure. … San Francisco Sheriff San Francisco Sheriff Mike Hennessey agrees with him.  —  Now the jeers.  San Francisco is initiating a program of busting the homeless on "quality of life" crimes.

National Journal's Cover Story On Blogs  —  Back in January 2006, I authored a cover story on "The Rise Of Blogs" for National Journal magazine.  In this week's hot-off-the-presses edition of the magazine, Bara Vaida, a former senior writer for me at Technology Daily, follows up with another cover story titled "Blogging On."

Losing A Generation?  —  The number of young people who do not consider themselves Christians is growing, as is the hostility toward Christianity expressed by the next generation of non-Christians, claims a new book from David Kinnaman of Barna.org.  Money quote: … And so the polarization grows.

Blackwater: "Newly Created Thug Caste"  —  (Naomi Wolf is the author of The End of America: Letter of Warning To A Young Patriot.  She has written extensively about Blackwater and joins us in the comments — jh)  —  Congress is finally asking questions of Erik Prince, the head of Blackwater …

Alleged Haggard Escort: 'Sen. Craig Visited Me'  —  NewsChannel 3  —  The male escort responsible for the downfall of Christian evangelist leader Ted Haggard is now alleging that embattled Senator Larry Craig also came to see him.  —  While promoting his new book during a radio interview …

Berkeley Marine Center Draws Anti-War Ire  —  (CBS) BERKELEY Marine Captain Richard Lund recruits college students and graduates as candidates for officer positions in the marines.  But carrying out that job in Berkeley is not always an easy task.  —  He has listened to a variety of complaints …

In Washington and Beyond, Disclosing a Few of Cheney's Locations  —  Seems famously secretive Vice President Cheney has been, for most of his tenure, at an undisclosed location, even if he's really just at his office, his residence, Camp David, his house in St. Michaels or the Paul Nelson hunting club in South Dakota.