Today’s edition of quick hits.<\/p>\n
* The defense rested<\/a> in Scooter Libby’s criminal trial today, but not before a little drama. Apparently, Libby’s defense team had led the judge to believe that the defendant would testify, which led to the lawyers having access to specific classified information. When the lawyers announced Libby would not take the stand, the judge said he would not allow some classified information to be presented to the jury as Libby’s defense team had planned. Closing arguments begin Tuesday.<\/p>\n * The Kansas State Board of Education, after having been taken over by creationist activists, returned<\/a> to the reality-based community yesterday, dismissing the old state science standards and voting, 6 to 4, to replace the guidelines with teaching standards that embrace modern biology.<\/p>\n * Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) decided not to sign<\/a> a proclamation recognizing Feb. 6 as “Ronald Reagan Day,” much to the dismay of Republican activists. Good for Patrick.<\/p>\n * The National Football League refused to run<\/a> a recruitment ad for the U.S. Border Patrol during last week’s Super Bowl, saying it was “controversial” because it mentioned duties such as fighting terrorism and stopping drugs and illegal aliens at the border. “The ad that the department submitted was specific to Border Patrol, and it mentioned terrorism. We were not comfortable with that,” said Greg Aiello, a spokesman for the NFL. “The borders, the immigration debate is a very controversial issue, and we were sensitive to any perception we were injecting ourselves into that.” Border Patrol agents (and conservative activists) have taken issue with the decision.<\/p>\n * Among the lurid details in the federal indictment in the Duke Cunningham bribery scandal yesterday was the revelation that Cunningham, in addition to the cash and luxury goods, was entertained by prostitutes<\/a> hired by a defense contractor.<\/p>\n * A recall effort is underway<\/a> in Arizona against Sen. John McCain (R) for his advocacy of the president’s Iraq policy. Though there is no recall mechanism in the law for U.S. senators, McCain has signed a voluntary pledge, on file with the Secretary of State’s Office agreeing, to resign immediately if defeated in a recall election. The recall group must collect 381,696 valid petition signatures by June 13 to force a statewide vote. It seems unlikely. * Apparently, the war in Afghanistan isn’t cool anymore<\/a>. Yesterday, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on progress in the war, featuring testimony from Gen. Karl Eikenberry, the outgoing commander of all NATO troops in Afghanistan. The only reporter to show up was a cameraman from CNN.<\/p>\n * Demonstrating the kind of cultural sophistication we’ve come to expect from the House GOP, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland<\/a> (R-Ga.) told his colleagues yesterday, “Some people from the other side seem to believe that if we pull out of Iraq, the Iraqi people are going to go back to tending sheep and herding goats.”<\/p>\n
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\n* James O’Beirne, who screened potential candidates for jobs with the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq by asking whether or not they voted for George W. Bush or agreed with Roe v. Wade, is being sought out<\/a> by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Defense Secretary Bob Gates has until next Tuesday to turn over documents relating to O’Beirne’s tenure; the staff of Waxman’s committee wants to interview O’Beirne by March 2.<\/p>\n