Links and Minifeatures 2008 06 23 Monday

Private Papers: Islam's War Doctrines Ignored

More on Obama's PACs and Lobbyists Canard

According to OpenSecrets.org, just 1% of John McCain's contributions -- a whopping $960,990 -- came from PACs. Over $88 million came from individuals. legend Individual contributions $88,221,824 91% legend PAC contributions $960,990 1%

And lobbyists? $655,576.

Read the whole thing

The MoveOn Smear, fact-checked

via Instapundit, The Affirmative Action Matryoshka: Where Does It End?

To wit: being a racial minority or a homosexual or having "ethnic heritage" (don't we all have that?) is worth as many points as having an undergraduate degree in international studies, having a doctorate in international studies, and having authored a book on international studies . . . combined! Being 1/64 Cherokee or being attracted to other human beings with similar genitalia is worth as many points as speaking Mandarin, Swahili and Arabic . . . combined! (I could go on).

Canada: The Stepford Nation

Congrats to Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani, Winner of Amnesty International's Human Rights Media Award

If you've forgotten, he's currently in prison, sentenced to six years hard labor, and there was a real fear he'd get the death penalty.

George Carlin mourned as counterculture hero

When he uttered all seven at a show in Milwaukee in 1972, he was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace, freed on $150 bail and exonerated when a Wisconsin judge dismissed the case, saying it was indecent but citing free speech and the lack of any disturbance.

The words were later played on a New York radio station, resulting in a 1978 Supreme Court ruling upholding the government's authority to sanction stations for broadcasting offensive language during hours when children might be listening.

"So my name is a footnote in American legal history, which I'm perversely kind of proud of," he told The Associated Press earlier this year.

George Carlin was inventive and clever with how he challenged boundaries, and if he uttered more profanity than some would like, he was always worth laughing with. Contrast that with some of his successors, who seem to believe that the seven words themselves should be enough for a laugh.

Obama braces for race-based ads

I'm with Lindsey Graham on this one as far as what the Obama campaign is likely to do:

"Every word will be twisted to make it about race," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a McCain friend and adviser. When he and others confront Obama on issues such as national security and the economy, Graham said, it will have "nothing to do with him being an African-American."

Thus far, John McCain has played this straight on the issues - which Obama can't handle. The Obama campaign would dearly love to make this about race, which would guarantee a win for them. But the McCain campaign should be smart enough to not go in that direction, and stomp on any who do.

More at Sister Toldjah

This is how the goons win: Making the cost in blood higher than their opponents are willing to pay.

Mugabe's rival pulls out of Zimbabwe vote

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew Sunday from this week's run-off presidential election in the beleaguered southern African nation, saying he could no longer participate in a race that's been marred by the widespread intimidation, torture, mutilation and murder of his supporters.

Unfortunately, this has two implications. The first is that the bloodshed goes on. The second is that the people who finally overthrow the goons are more likely to be goons themselves.

Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 and initially won praise for promoting racial reconciliation, has driven Zimbabwe to economic ruin with a host of failed policies, starting a decade ago with the seizure of white-owned farms. He staved off challenges in previous elections with intimidation and vote-rigging, according to numerous independent analysts and civic groups.

Not to mention the old standby of killing enough of the opposition that the rest won't vote.

Zimbabwe police attack opposition; leader flees to embassy

Heavily armed police arrested dozens of party members at the headquarters in the capital of Harare, said Fortune Gwaze, policy coordinator for Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change. Those arrested were party activists from rural areas who were using the offices as refuge after weeks of politically motivated violence that have left more than 85 opposition supporters dead, Gwaze said.

via Instapundit, American Murder Mystery

BofA-Scripted Bank Bailout Looks Awfully Similar to Dodd-Drafted Housing Bill

Mr. Dodd just happens to be one of those congresscritters who got a sweetheart deal from Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo.

Q and O on "inactive" oil leases.