Kathleen Willie is writing a book. And we can be sure that the junior senator from New York will claim that this (Democrat’s) new tome is just part of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy:

The upcoming book

Well, maybe John Kerry is afraid to sue, but now he’s on the receiving end of a lawsuit for defamation.

Greenspan’s term is almost up. Based on precedent, I’m guessing that Bush will either appoint his personal banker, or the head of the search committee…

Greenspan’s term is almost up. Based on precedent, I’m guessing that Bush will either appoint his personal banker, or the head of the search committee…

Greenspan’s term is almost up. Based on precedent, I’m guessing that Bush will either appoint his personal banker, or the head of the search committee…

Alaska Air has a nifty new paint job on one of their airplanes. At federal taxpayer expense.

Alaska. Isn’t that the state where residents get a negative income tax as a result of their oil revenues? But hey, if your Senator is chairman of the Appropriations Committee, why pay for things out of your own pocket?

Tunku Varadarajan has an interview with a recent heroine of September 11.

Tunku Varadarajan has an interview with a recent heroine of September 11.

Tunku Varadarajan has an interview with a recent heroine of September 11.

I think that the latest William Bennett kerfuffle is a tempest in a teapot, but his response irritates me a little:

A thought experiment about public policy, on national radio, should not have received the condemnations it has. Anyone paying attention to this debate should be offended by those who have selectively quoted me, distorted my meaning, and taken out of context the dialogue I engaged in this week. Such distortions from ‘leaders’ of organizations and parties is a disgrace not only to the organizations and institutions they serve, but to the First Amendment.

Sorry, but this has nothing to do with the First Amendment. I get just as annoyed when people on the so-called right wrap themselves in the First Amendment as a rhetorical barrier against criticism as I do when people on the left do.

There is nothing in the First Amendment that protects anyone from having their speech criticized. Such criticism is itself protected by the First Amendment. All that the amendment says is that “Congress shall pass no law…” Unless there was a legislative move afoot today to outlaw Bill Bennett from putting his foot in his mouth of which I was previously unaware, I don’t know to what he’s referring here.