Foreigner Finally Going Home: Americans aren't the only ones stuck on death row, as it turns out. Dan Glaister's "Scotsman on death row in US will be home for Christmas" published today in the Guardian, contains a familiar fact pattern: claim of innocence, ineffective assistance of counsel, and decades-long effort for freedom. Listen up!
Unusual Baby Name Forbidden by Italian Court: It's refreshing to be able to fuss about some other court system, and the AP story "Italian Court Bans Couple From Naming Son 'Friday', Saying It Gives 'Sense of Inferiority' " is just the ticket. The details are amazing. Makes us glad to be in America, at least for now.
From 'You' to Who? Time Magazine's leap from "You" as the winner of last year's Person of the Year to this year's pick of Vladimir Putin left us stammering. Join us to find out managing editor Richard Stengel's reasons, as cited by Luke Harding's "Putin, scourge of the US, named person of the year by Time" in Thursday's Guardian.
Paul Keeps Funny Money: It's rare, but Sam and Deidre disagree about Ron Paul's decision to keep a campaign contribution from white supremacist Don Black, as reported by the AP yesterday. You'll have to join us and pick a side.
Intrigue Unabated: We devote the last segment to two pieces: "Mark Mazzetti and Scott Shane's "Bush Lawyers Discussed Fate of C.I.A. Tapes, published Wednesday in the N.Y. Times, and former U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins "Brian Roehrkasse, Please Leave the Building", published in December's Washington Monthly. Fascinating, all the way around. Don't miss this one!
In the interest of giving you, ourselves and our webgenius a holiday break, we'll be back Thursday, December 27 unless we suffer separation anxiety before then.
Thank you one and all for your continuing support. Be safe and enjoy the holidays!
