Last 2005 Round-Up

►According to this poll by Rasmussen Reports, 64% of Americans believe the National Security Agency (NSA) should be allowed to intercept telephone conversations between terrorism suspects in other countries and people living in the United States. Just 23% disagree. This view is shared by 81% of Republicans, 51% of Democrats and 57% of those not affiliated with either major political party. Somebody should warn the New York Times about that. Details and comments: Ace of Spades HQ, Protein Wisdom, NewsBusters.org, The Anchoress, Generation Why?, Captain's Quarters, Instapundit, Sister Toldjah, Blogs for Bush, Michelle Malkin, The Strata-Sphere, Say Anything, Power Line, Decision '08, California Conservative. ►A few days ago, the Washington Post published an article about "warbloggers" which - as Bill Roggio explained, even too softly - was only an attempt to discredit who (like Roggio himself) didn't destroy his own brain in the anti-Bush mechanism which dominates the mainstream media. Glenn Reynolds has an excellent round-up on the subject. But, as Hugh Hewitt writes, who needs MSM when you can read (for free) Michael Yon, Michael Totten, Bill Roggio and Iraq the Model? ►Jeffrey Hart (senior editor at the National Review) on the opinion page of the Wall Street Hournal begins with Russell Kirk to summarize and define modern American conservatism. Hart's analysis is very harsh, especially against pro-life and free-market ideologies (portrayed as utopians), "wilsonian" foreign policy of Bush Administration and the growing influence of the "anti-intellectual" South within the Republican party. But his article ignited a very interesting debate at NRO's The Corner (and not only), well summed-up by Spinning Clio (via All Things Beautiful) with a sort of liveblogging. It's a mandatory reading for any fusionist wannabe. ►Chicago Tribune tries to analyze (seriously) the "case for war" of Bush Administration in Iraq. Do expect some surprises. ►Robert D. Kaplan, author of "Imperial Grunts: The American military on the ground" (the book that Bush is reading right now), interviewed by Hugh Hewitt during his radio show. The full transcript of the interview on Radio Blogger. ►Max Boot, on the Los Angeles Times, wonders why Hollywood has so many restraints in identifing terrorists as the "bad guys". "The lesson of World War II - he writes - still stands: Civilized countries must use violence to defeat barbarians. Why is that so hard for Hollywood to understand?". Boot should read "Tales from the Left Coast" by James Hirsen. The problem is that Hollywood knows very well who the "bad guys" are. Bud, since decades, they are on bad guys' side.