A Note to My Fellow Hawks  —  President Obama opposed the war in Iraq.  He still thinks it was a mistake.  It's therefore unrealistic for supporters of the war to expect the president to give the speech John McCain would have given, or to expect President Obama to put the war in the context we would put it in.

A classless, limp and boring speech  —  President Obama's Oval Office speech on the termination of combat operations in Iraq was so half-hearted and detached, it was a little hard to discern its true meaning.  I don't think anyone has captured the nature of Obama's discussion of President Bush better than Paul Mirengoff.

Obama's Speech  —  Yes, there were some fine parts.  How could there not be?  —  But I really disliked it.  Maybe I'm letting other factors poison my take, and I should probably sleep on it before rendering final judgment.  But here are a few things that really stuck in my craw.

Humility and Honesty About Iraq Can Inspire Trust  —  Later today, President Obama will speak to the American people about Iraq.  No doubt he will laud the “end of major combat operations” by the date he randomly selected some 18 months ago.  His press secretary Robert Gibbs also gave us …

The “nobody-could-have-known” excuse and Iraq  —  (updated below - Update II - Update III [Wed.]  - Update IV [Wed.])  —  The predominant attribute of American elites is a refusal to take responsibility for any failures.  The favored tactic for accomplishing this evasion is the “nobody-could-have-known” excuse.

Murkowski Concedes Alaska Primary Defeat  —  ANCHORAGE — Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska conceded late Tuesday in her Republican primary race against Joe Miller, a lawyer from Fairbanks who was backed by Tea Party activists, Sarah Palin and other conservatives.

Murkowski concedes GOP Senate race to Miller  —  Incumbent Lisa Murkowski has conceded to challenger Joe Miller in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.  —  Speaking at a news conference broadcast on live television from her campaign headquarters in Anchorage, Murkowski said …

Tax Cuts That Make a Difference  —  It's time to start talking about a tax cut.  —  The economy is struggling mightily.  Some 15 million people remain unemployed.  The Federal Reserve has been slow to act and still is not doing much.  The Senate has been unable to find the 60 votes needed to pass anything but minor bills.