Today’s edition of quick hits.
* Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), who’s done nothing but impress everyone in recent months, has been tapped to deliver the Democratic response to Bush’s State of the Union address next week. It will be Webb’s first national platform, and in an unusual development for Democrats, no one is complaining today about the choice.
* Time well tell if bluster over Iraq Iran develops into something more serious, but in the meantime, it’s distressing to know that the U.S. government has “sold forbidden equipment at least a half-dozen times to middlemen for countries — including Iran and China — who exploited security flaws in the Defense Department’s surplus auctions. The sales include fighter jet parts and missile components.” Great move.
* If the 60 Minutes interview wasn’t enough for you, and you just can’t wait to see Bush stumble through another interview, the president will be on Newshour with Jim Lehrer tonight at 6pm eastern.
* The civilian death toll in Iraq from 2006 was nearly 35,000, according to a U.N. report released today. Iraqi government figures in early January put last year’s civilian death toll at 12,357. When asked about the difference, Magazzeni said the U.N. figures were compiled from information obtained through the Iraqi Health Ministry, hospitals across the country and the Medico-Legal Institute in Baghdad. “Without significant progress in the rule of law sectarian violence will continue indefinitely and eventually spiral out of control,” he warned.
* Reason #9,435,712 why I should probably stop reading The Note.
* Here’s an interesting lawsuit to keep an eye on: a fired CIA agent, who collected prewar intelligence that Iraq was not developing WMD, claims he was sacked because he refused to alter intelligence that contradicted Bush administration policies. A federal judge ruled, on technical grounds, that the unnamed agent’s case can go forward.
* I realize that CNN”s Glenn Beck isn’t the sharpest crayon in the box, but the sooner he stops embarrassing himself on the air, the better.
* Condoleezza Rice has ruled out negotiations with Iran and Syria, in part because the countries might bring up subjects she doesn’t want to talk about.
* On a related note, Defense Secretary Bob Gates was for direct negotiations with Iran before he was against them.
* Something extremely weird is going on with the White House replacing Senate-confirmed U.S. attorneys with its own interim appointees.
* Two Reagan-Bush era Justice Department officials wrote a very odd op-ed today, suggesting that a resolution condemning the president’s escalation of the war would be inconsistent with the Constitution. John Judis sets the record straight.
* As part of my ongoing (and kind of odd) fascination with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, it looks like the White House is still trying to undermine consumers’ interests. (thanks to R.M. for the tip)
* Strange bedfellows: “In a first-of-its-kind alliance that could fundamentally reshape the environmental movement, 20 labor unions with nearly 5 million members are joining forces with a Republican-leaning umbrella group of conservationists — the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership — to put pressure on Congress and the Bush administration.”
* Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: “He has 24 months left in his presidency. I don’t think I’m being mean-spirited by saying [that in] the first six years of his presidency, there’s been nothing accomplished except the biggest foreign policy fiasco in the history of our country.”
* Who’s going to headline the April 21 White House Correspondents Association annual dinner? Will it be Stephen Colbert, with another stunning performance? Alas, no. This year, impersonator/comedian Rich Little will be the special guest. Yes, the Correspondents Association wimped out in a big way.
If none of these particular items are of interest, consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.