Today’s edition of quick hits.
* The AP, noting that previous wars have claimed far more lives, asks why U.S. casualties in Iraq are so upsetting to the nation. It’s a provocative point, but I think Will Bunch is quite right: “When the war is a mistake from Day One, then one U.S. military death is too many. World War II’s got nothing to do with it.”
* John M. Shalikashvili, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote a New York Times op-ed today calling for the end of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, saying the end of the ban on gay soldiers is “eventual and inevitable,” and that the military “cannot afford to lose” those who want to serve. It’s about time, Gen. Shalikashvili.
* A Monday night broadcast of CNN’s Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer confused Osama bin Laden and Barack Obama, the latest in a series of CNN broadcasts equating the senator’s name with that of militant Islamic personalities. The network apologized today.
* I suppose it’s possible to read a more elitist approach to interacting with the public than Joel Stein’s column in the LA Times today, but it’s hard to see how.
* John Henke, of QandO blog fame, was the official blogger for George Allen (R-Va.), and will now join Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell’s team, coordinating New Media engagement for the Senate GOP. Congrats to John.
* It’s hard to appreciate just how much better fluorescent light bulbs are than incandescent until you see the comparison chart. (What’s the political angle to this? It’s a big issue for Al Gore.)
* Did everyone hear about the group of United Airline employees who swear they saw a mysterious, saucer-shaped craft hovering over O’Hare Airport last fall? Officials insist it was just some unusual weather phenomenon, but I hear Mulder and Scully are on the case.
* “The Iraqi government launched an inquiry on Monday into how guards filmed and taunted Saddam Hussein on the gallows, turning his execution into a televised spectacle that has inflamed sectarian anger.” Probably a good move.
* Salon had a fascinating chat today with Ronald Numbers — a former Seventh-day Adventist and author of the definitive history of creationism — on his break with the church, whether creationists are less intelligent, and why Galileo wasn’t really a martyr.
* John Dean has a good piece on what to do when the White House stonewalls congressional oversight, which seems more or less inevitable given the Bush gang’s track record. Unfortunately, while describing the ground rules, Dean notes, “[T]here are no rules!”
* There’s been some talk about incoming Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) having been accused of mixing office staff and campaign staff, but late last week, Conyers learned that the House Ethics Committee would not pursue the matter. Conyers, however, did acknowledge a “lack of clarity” in communicating what was expected of his office staff and he accepted responsibility for his error.
* There was a flurry of activity in the Massachusetts legislature today on gay marriage. Apparently, there were three votes on the matter, which will in turn lead to another vote in the next session. I’m already lost.
* After 200 years, it now appears a congressional vote for the District of Columbia is possible, if not likely.
* And, finally, for all of the problems associated with global warming, let’s not lose sight of one problem of particular interest to Vermonters: climate change has the potential to ruin the maple syrup industry.
If none of these particular items are of interest, consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.