Thank you for your coffee, seignor. I shall miss that when we leave Casablanca. ~ Ingrid Bergman (Casablanca)

Captain’s Quarters (Ed Morrissey) Now Sit Back And Let Peace Roll Across The Globe

I don’t think that talking with the Iranians does much harm, except to the extent that it sends a bad signal to the democracy activists within its borders. By focusing the talks exclusively on Iraqi security concerns, it helps to keep the talks from appearing to endorse the reign of the mullahs. Those pushing to end that reign from within might note the subtleties of the diplomatic dance and not conclude that the US has resigned itself to dealing with the theocrats currently oppressing the Iranian people.

Don Surber American bankruptcy

Here is an assignment for the 18 people who decided to start the 2008 presidential race about a year before it should: Just what the hell are you going to do about this unfunded liability?

Hyscience (Richard) Jack Murtha’s Friends And The Infrastructure Of Corruption

Clearly, corruption in Washington is bipartisan. Just as clear is that the Democrats pre-election promises to end it have proven to be, as Robert Novak suggests - hallow, and that’s almost sugar-coating it. Take for example Rep. John “our troops raped and murdered innocent civilians” Murtha, who quietly slipped two earmarks costing taxpayers $5.5 million into the Intelligence authorization bill . The beneficiary was a contractor headquartered in Murtha’s hometown of Johnstown, Pa., whose executives have been generous political contributors to Murtha: