Odds and Ends

Some miscellaneous- but important- news...

India is recovering after deadly bombings in Mumbai.

A possible result of global warming... "Trees could be growing in the Antarctic within a century" according to scientists, an AFP report explains. Let that one rattle around in your brain for a while.

Republicans are not interested in renewing the Voting Rights Act. Democrats are fighting that stance, however.

(UPDATE: Good news... The House has voted to renew the Voting Rights Act, with no changes)

Republicans are also planning to crack down on leaks. Maybe they should start with their own sink.

Sen. Pat Roberts, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is once again delaying the "completion of Phase II of the investigation into the manipulation of pre-war intelligence". Surprise, surprise... it's unlikely he will complete it until after the midterm elections.

In good news, Iraqi forces have taken full security control from coalition forces in one province of Iraq.

In bad news, the overall situation on the ground remains as bad as ever.

In other news, the White House is actually paying someone $106,641 to be the "Director for Lessons Learned". Heckuva job.

Finally, the return of conveniently-timed terror warnings/plots indicates the elections are near.