Today’s edition of quick hits.<\/p>\n
* Remember back during the Lieberman-Lamont primary when Lieberman claimed that his website had been hacked by his rival? The former Dem asked the U.S. attorney’s office to conduct an investigation. Yesterday, the issue was resolved and — surprise, surprise — Lamont and his supporters were cleared<\/a>. (The accusations got quite a bit of attention at the time; the resolution will probably get less.)<\/p>\n * Speaking of Lieberman, how independent is he? So independent that he’s given up<\/a> on the bipartisan Senate Centrist Coalition.<\/p>\n * Another day, another Republican facing a criminal investigation — New York State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R) acknowledged late yesterday that he’s facing an FBI probe<\/a>, stemming from his business dealings through his consulting company, Capital Business Consultants.<\/p>\n * The cost of the war<\/a> in Iraq is about to surpass the inflation-adjusted cost of Vietnam.<\/p>\n * I wonder why Henry A. “Hank” Crumpton, an accomplished former career CIA agent, promptly and unexpectedly resigned<\/a> as the Bush Administration’s chief of counterterrorism operations at the State Department? The official statement cited “family reasons,” but that’s practically code for “we don’t want to tell you the real reason.”<\/p>\n * Newsweek editor Jon Meacham spoke to<\/a> Greg Sargent about why the magazine omitted poll results favorable to likely Dem ’08 presidential candidates. (Nice job getting the skinny, Greg.)<\/p>\n * According to the Army’s first survey<\/a> involving multiple war-zone rotations and the troops’ mental health, U.S. soldiers serving repeated Iraq deployments are “50 percent more likely than those with one tour to suffer from acute combat stress, raising their risk of post-traumatic stress disorder.” This should surprise no one.<\/p>\n * The anti-Muslim Republican congressman I mentioned<\/a> earlier refuses to apologize<\/a> for his bigoted letter. * In light of the criticisms of Harry Reid’s recent comments about an escalation of troops in Iraq, the incoming Senate Majority Leader has clarified his position<\/a> on the issue. It should settle the issue.<\/p>\n * Atrios<\/a>: “Social Security is a lovely program. It’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with. There is no problem. Don’t mess with it. There’s no reason to. I know if a bunch of you get a room and cut a deal, any deal, David Broder will be very happy. But there’s no reason to mess with the program. At all. Stop it.”<\/p>\n * The issue of “robot rights” became a surprisingly big deal<\/a> on several blogs today.<\/p>\n * Slate asks<\/a>, “Did the Vatican steal Jesus’ foreskin so people would shut up about the savior’s penis?” I know, it’s an odd question, but the article is surprisingly interesting. (thanks to L.M. for the heads-up)<\/p>\n * The State Department now allows all ambassadors to use entertainment or “representation” funds to pay for what are called “seasonal cards<\/a>.” Ambassadors are reminded, however, that “any messages or images on the cards should be secular in nature (such as “season’s greetings” or pictures of wreaths, wintry scenes, snowmen or Santa Claus) and should not convey religious themes or messages.” Especially in parts of the Middle East.<\/p>\n
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\n* Rudy Giuliani, who is currently on wife #3, apparently prefers to pretend<\/a> that his family does not include children from a previous marriage.<\/p>\n