Like or dislike Ariel Sharon, his in ability to remain in power will create a serious power vacuum in Israel.

Via Tapped.

Looks like US Senate candidate Claire McCaskill (D) is leading Senator Jim Talent (R) in recent polling, but they are both so close I don’t think you can take anything from it as of yet.  Talent has done very little to distinguish himself since beating out Jean Carnahan, who served in her husband’s place after he died in a plane crash during the 2000 election, and McCaskill may be ahead now, but she still has a difficult fight ahead of her.  Talent is an excellent campaigner and McCaskill’s campaign for Governor in 2004 was less than stellar (although I think voters are regretting having put Roy Blunt’s son in office).  It should be an interesting battle to watch.

One has to wonder what "president" Vladimir Putin was thinking when he decided to play political football with Europe’s gas supply.  In the end, all he did was reinforce the opinion of the world that he is becoming little more than a old-style Soviet dictator bent on power and control not freedom and democracy.

Why in the hell would International Coal Group announce all of the trapped miners were alive before they actually knew that to be true?  I can’t even imagine what the families of the 12 dead miners must be going through, especially after they were first told their loved ones were alive!  I also can’t imagine what the lone survivor will be going through as he adjusts to the idea of being the only one to return.