Around the Blogosphere This Week

Here are a handful of the interesting stories I've come across in the last few days, starting with "Barack Obama, Neocon" at the subject link above. This piece by John Hinderaker of Power Line points out that "What is weird about Obama and other Democrats who pay lip service, at least, to the value of democracy is that they seem willing to apply the principle to every country in the world except Iraq."

9th Circuit Supports Bush Administration On State Secrets Objection: Ed Morrissey at Captain's Quarters on the "most liberal appellate court in the federal judiciary" giving the Bush Administration a big victory in the ongoing litigation over surveillance of terrorists. More from WLS at Patterico.

Mi Casa, Sue Casa: John Fund at Opinion Journal: "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has moved to kill an amendment that would protect employers from federal lawsuits for requiring their workers to speak English. Among the employers targeted by such lawsuits: the Salvation Army." The mind boggles...

Democrat Admits: S-CHIP is the Universal Health Care Trojan Horse: Michelle Malkin on former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack's explanation of the plans to incrementally expand federal insurance, leading to universal health care.

Does Marrying Bill Clinton Qualify Someone to Be President?: Er, no. John Hawkins at TownHall.

Policy Fred: A National Review Online editorial on Fred Thompson: "...he is the first candidate in either party to come out with solid plans to reform Social Security and immigration. And while most candidates have called for increasing the size of the military, Thompson laid out a detailed plan to achieve that end in a Tuesday speech at the Citadel Military College. On these issues, Thompson has set a standard for specificity, conservatism, and soundness that we would like to see the other Republican candidates measure up to."

The Secret? It's Not the Potatoes: Pre-Thanksgiving advice from Julia Moskin at the New York Times on how to achieve perfect mashed potatoes.

Patriotism: Not Quite Dead in the Public Schools: Full circle back to Power Line, and a lovely rendition of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" by students in Minnesota. John Hinderaker shot it with his digital camera and there isn't much of a picture, but the sound quality is excellent and the performance is superb; the students should be very proud. This is a classic arrangement of a great song; if memory serves, this is the same arrangement which was sung at the National Cathedral on September 14, 2001.