Iran Punishes Its People (NYT)

editorial humor?

Washington must work to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions with the same zeal used to condemn Tehran's assault on reform-minded opposition.

Peer Review (WSJ Best of the Web)

not quite right.

science comes from curiosity. peer review is one way to channel curiosity, or to thwart it for that matter.

check out the curiosity in the global warming advocates.

And here is Mann's response:

"Re, your point at the end--you've taken the words out of my mouth. Skepticism is essential for the functioning of science. It yields an erratic path towards eventual truth. But legitimate scientific skepticism is exercised through formal scientific circles, in particular the peer review process. A necessary though not in general sufficient condition for taking a scientific criticism seriously is that it has passed through the legitimate scientific peer review process. those such as McIntyre who operate almost entirely outside of this system are not to be trusted."

In principle, Revkin and Mann are quite right.

The Passion of the Right (NYT)

party of the future

by Charles M Blow
Republicans are likely to gain in 2010, not because of their anachronous tenets, but because of historical patterns and an electorate exasperated with seeming Democratic ineptitude.

Primitive Blog

Primitive blog.

Reflection on Grass

Reflection on grass.

Field Corn

Field Corn

The Tenacity Question (NYT)

military code for moron

by David Brooks
Military experts say that President Obama is intellectually sophisticated, but they do not know if he has the determination needed from a war president.

The Defining Moment (NYT)

more people needed in the loon camp

by Paul Krugman
The health care legislation on the table isn’t perfect, but it’s as good as anyone could reasonably have expected. It is time for everyone to decide which side they’re on.

Afterglow (NYT)

back when even newspapers were big

NASA has detected a gamma-ray burst that is the oldest and most distant object discovered in our universe — an invitation for all of us to unfetter our imaginations.

The Commander’s Duty Done (NYT)

the sun tzu photo op strategy

President Obama’s visit to Dover Air Force Base to pay tribute to the returning war dead was entirely appropriate as he faces the decision of what comes next in Afghanistan.

Mrs. Clinton in Pakistan (NYT)

distribute a government cartoon book, "Religion and You"

To enlist Pakistan as a reliable ally, Washington and Islamabad leaders need to do a much better job of explaining themselves to the Pakistani people.

The House Health Reform Bill (NYT)

editorial brain dead mode always works

The bill unveiled Thursday would greatly expand coverage of the uninsured while reducing budget deficits. It deserves to be approved.

Toxic Hamburgers (NYT)

irradiation no match for food czar

Congress and the Agriculture Department should act to make ground beef safer, and the White House should nominate a strong undersecretary for food safety.

Wrong Advice (NYT)

truth in headlines

If Roberto Micheletti and his backers expect the next Honduran government to be legitimate, it must restore Manuel Zelaya to the presidency now.

The Peace Prize (NYT)

and the editorial meeting's result is

President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize shows that many people around the world want him to restore American values and leadership — and believe he can.

Talking With Myanmar (NYT)

Sternly worded letter follows

In the past, the punishment-only approach to Myanmar hasn’t worked. Talks, if handled skillfully, might lead in time to positive change.

Where Did ‘We’ Go? (NYT)

collective "our" overlooked

by Thomas L Friedman
There is no more “we” in American politics at a time when “we” can only manage, let alone fix, our huge problems if there is a collective “we” at work.

On Safire (NYT)

vitriol noticed

by Maureen Dowd
William Safire was anything but a nattering nabob of negativity. He had none of the vile and vitriol of today’s howling pack of conservative pundits.

Here We Go Again (NYT)

only the ones on the political right

by Charles M Blow
Most Americans know that racism is an issue in this country. The question is if — and to what degree — that racism animates critics of the president.

The Scourge Persists (NYT)

actually Frank Rich is their worst columnist

by Bob Herbert
The fact that a black man is in the White House has so unsettled much of white America that the lid is coming off the racism that had been simmering all along.

Iran’s Captives (NYT)

world opinion and strongly worded letter

If Iran is serious about changing international opinion, it should release the five American citizens it has unjustly imprisoned.

Tired Protectionism (NYT)

whoa! the NYT gets an economics question right

is it random, albeit with small apparent probability?

Do they not see it's a labor union campaign payoff, which is always favored?

The new tarriff on tires from China may be legal, but it is bad economics and bad foreign policy.

The Rights of Gay Employees (NYT)

also imcompetent

It is a disgrace that in 29 states workers can be fired for being gay. Congress should make passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act a top priority.

Justice Delayed (NYT)

Constitution favored

The nation has always had the tools it needs to bring to trial those accused of organizing the terrorist attacks on 9/11 — legally and without jeopardizing secrets or shredding the Constitution.

Boy, Oh, Boy (NYT)

Economics disagrees with Obama.

by
Maureen Dowd
Joe Wilson’s outburst in Congress revealed one thing: Some people just can’t believe a black man is president and will never accept it.

A Living Memorial (NYT)

help yourself to a free newspaper

Devoting a day to volunteer service is an appropriate way to show pride for the country and to honor those who lost their lives on Sept. 11.

President Obama Steps Forward (NYT)

you lie

The president’s rhetorically powerful speech must be only the start of a sustained campaign to get health care reform legislation passed.

The Prince of Dispassion (NYT)

insufficient facts noted

by Charles M Blow
In debates, and particularly in the health care debate, facts are not sufficient. President Obama needs to move Americans with passion, conviction and faith.

For New York City Council (NYT)

affordable housing to continue

The editorial board endorses candidates in several of the most competitive districts where winning the Democratic primary usually means capturing the seat.

Respect Your Children (NYT)

speech of lies recommended

It is ridiculous that the American right on talk radio and the Web are trying to stop children from hearing the president’s education speech because, they say, that it is socialist propaganda.

Where the Jobs Aren’t (NYT)

Or you could ignore NYT advice and zero cap gains and business taxes.

With the job market severely wounded, and with consumer spending expected to be weak for a very long time, it could easily take until 2014 for employment to recover.

The Guns of August (NYT)

pandhandlers around the NYT building

by Frank Rich
The simmering undertone of violence in our politics seems to be getting darker.

Connecting Nature’s Dots (NYT)

partial differential equations called for

by Thomas L. Friedman
Policy solutions for climate change, poverty, food security and biodiversity need to be as integrated as nature itself.

The Uninsured (NYT)

obese burger eaters lamented

There are tens of millions of people without insurance, often for extended periods, and there is good evidence that lack of insurance is harmful to their health.

More Business as Usual (NYT)

NYT options plummet

Bank employee pay guidelines must be accompanied by reforms ensuring that banks can no longer profit from primarily speculative activities or other excessively risky transactions.

The Climate and National Security (NYT)

sacrifice goat

The way to address the grave threats posed by climate change is with sacrifice now, and an apolitical catalyst may come from recognizing the role that the environment plays in our security.

Intel’s Human Rights (NYT)

usefulness deplored as economic principle

Regulators should not be fooled by Intel’s appeal of the European Commission decision that the company violated antitrust law.

The View From the Bottom (NYT)

do the opposite, is always good advice

Policy makers may need to expand relief efforts to ensure the downturn is not followed by a long spell of very weak economic growth.

The Massachusetts Model (NYT)

glass half full

Calling Massachusetts’s experiment in near universal health care coverage a fiscal disaster is an egregious misread, and while imperfect, it may provide a road map for national health care reform.

Resistors on Trial in Iran (Drudge)

Next week, capacitors.

Bad Actors, Bad Concrete (NYT)

organized crime turf war threatened

New York City’s Buildings Department says it has set new standards for testing the durability and safety of concrete, but further trouble may lead to a municipal testing operation.

America’s Not-So-Fast Trains (NYT)

convert bike paths

If President Obama and Congress are going to delay a major transportation system overhaul, it is vital to spend money now on projects like high-speed rail corridors across the nation.

Detained and Abused (NYT)

Bush at fault, more leftism needed

President Obama did not create the sprawling immigration detention system in which monitoring violations are rampant, but his administration must soon try to fix it.

Trying to Recover (NYT)

no bad economics overlooked on the left

While the stimulus package is cushioning the worst effects of the downturn, new policies on foreclosures and lending must also be part of the plan for economic recovery.

President Obama, Professor Gates and the Cambridge Police (NYT)

supreme court packed

By BRENT STAPLES
President Obama has never played down the significance of racial discrimination, despite the American obsession that he has transcended race.

The Right Way to Register Voters (NYT)

the Chicago model

America should follow the lead of nations that have put in place the right systems to bring eligible voters into the electorate.

Where the Jobs Are (NYT)

economic reasoning applied

With low-wage work expected to be the most plentiful in the years to come, raising the minimum wage and growth opportunities should be a priority of the White House.

Costs and Benefits (NYT)

next reasoning plateau: perverse side effects.

Pending bills do an excellent job of providing health insurance for uninsured Americans, but Congress must also address the rising cost of health care itself.

Secretary Clinton Goes to India (NYT)

bread cast upon the waters

The United States and India can do a lot to deepen their relationship, but for that to happen India needs to take a more active roll in trade talks and stabilizing the region.

The Census Gets a Leader (NYT)

spin called for

The bipartisan support for Robert M. Groves as director of the Census Bureau must not end with his confirmation; lawmakers also need to get behind effort to build public confidence in the census.

Illegal, and Pointless (NYT)

enemies list

A full investigation of the many laws that were evaded in the name of national security during the Bush administration is the only way to ensure these abuses don’t happen again.

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Promises to Keep (NYT)

elections are the trouble

Having done his damage to a severely damaged campaign finance system, President Obama now has a clear responsibility to fix it.

Fair Pay for Caregivers (NYT)

market justice called for

Further delay in rescinding a measure that denies caregivers fair pay raises the danger that their plight will get mired in the broader debate over health care costs.

The Governor’s Mr. Fix-It (NYT)

Blind leading the blind.

The lawyers will start dueling about Gov. David Paterson’s legal right to appoint a lieutenant, but first he should be applauded for his wisdom and assertiveness.

Palin

Palin is doing a Ross Perot.

An Advocate for Women (NYT)

islam will not come up

We welcome President Obama’s decision to create a new post, White House adviser on violence against women, and his appointment of a seasoned advocate for victims to fill it.

Climate in the Senate (NYT)

iou based economy

The Senate needs to resist calls to weaken the House’s bill capping greenhouse gases and instead make it even better and approve it.

Firefighters and Race (NYT)

close analysis

In ruling against New Haven, the Supreme Court dealt a blow to diversity in the American workplace.

The House and Global Warming (NYT)

editorial science

The House should pass a bill that puts a price on carbon emissions, the first step toward averting the worst damage from climate change.

What We Need to Know (NYT)

democrats at fault

Until all the events that precipitated the financial crisis are known, some reforms of the financial regulatory system should be put on hold.

Jump-Start the New York Senate (NYT)

skill disparaged

The political acrobatics in the New York State Senate this week have done an excellent job of cementing Albany’s reputation as government by circus.

Of Fish and Flexibility (NYT)

objectivity praised

The new Magnuson-Stevens rules, which give impartial scientists, not self-interested fishermen, a greater say in fishing limits, deserve a chance to work.

Politics of the Gun (NYT)

emotion expressed

It is shameful that Congress caved in to the gun lobby and abandoned the effort to grant the District of Columbia a voting representative in the House.

Gene by Gene (NYT)

science creates NYT reader

An experiment that created a strain of mouse with the human gene critical for communication explores what humanness really is and how little is understood.

Intel and Competition (NYT)

low prices must be stopped

The slow investigation into Intel’s predatory business practices is evidence that Washington must pursue monopolies more vigorously and foster competition.

The Real Path to Security (NYT)

you can have neither

President Obama was exactly right when he said Americans do not have to choose between security and their democratic values.

Safer Credit Cards (NYT)

only bears will have guns

The House should reject an amendment to the much needed credit card reform bill that allows loaded firearms to be carried into national parks.

The Earth Wins One (NYT)

back on road will be phased out

New emissions standards will put America back on the road toward energy independence. But the biggest winner could be the atmosphere.

So Far So Good (NYT)

union in charge

It looks as if Chrysler will emerge from its restructuring a more sensible company. But still looming is the fate of General Motors.

36 Percent Is High Enough (NYT)

not about income tax rates

Congress should restore consumer protections by setting a reasonable federal ceiling on interest rates and allowing states to adopt stricter limits if they want to.

Cheney, Master of Pain (NYT)

bush not moved past

The question of what Nancy Pelosi knew or didn’t, or when she did or didn’t know, is irrelevant to how W. and Dick Cheney broke the law and authorized torture.

Obama Can’t Turn the Page on Bush (NYT)

bush attacked

by Frank Rich
Until there is true transparency, revelations of the unresolved eight-year nightmare will keep raining down drip by drip.

Chemical Plant Safety (NYT)

don't forget to add congressional oversight

A major explosion last year provided more evidence that the nation needs Congress to pass a tougher chemical plant security law.

Building a Better Census Bureau (NYT)

strong overcounts needed

The confirmation of Robert Groves to head the Census Bureau is a good start, but Congress must do more to revitalize the weak agency.

Computer Program to Take On ‘Jeopardy!’ (NYT)

it's ``who''

The new bid is based on three years of work by a team that has grown to 20 experts in fields like natural language processing, machine learning and information retrieval.

...
Mr. Friedman added that they were also thinking about whom the human contestants should be and were considering inviting Ken Jennings, the “Jeopardy!” contestant who won 74 consecutive times and collected $2.52 million in 2004.

Selling Obesity at School (NYT)

newspaper vending machines recommended

The place to start fighting the childhood obesity epidemic is the schools where junk foods are sold outside the healthy federal meals programs.

Try Some Quid Pro Nil (NYT)

government power not seen as problem

Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s ethics agenda should include legislation to bar lawmakers from taking contributions from anyone who benefits from their budget earmarks.

60 Miles From Islamabad (NYT)

strongly worded letter

Washington can not waste more time enabling Pakistan’s denial of the mortal threat that the Taliban poses to the country’s fragile democracy.

Elections Have Consequences (WSJ)

literary turn of phrase meets cleft kitchen sink sentence

It's hard to reconcile the man who nearly boarded the Obama express with the tough-minded Republican senator who sat across from The Wall Street Journal's editorial board at our offices earlier this week.

Reclaiming America’s Soul (NYT)

krugman news fantasy channel

by PAUL KRUGMAN
The only way for the nation to regain its moral compass is to investigate how the government’s interrogation abuses happened, and, if necessary, to prosecute those responsible.

Barbershop (NYT)

rural life in the Times office building

By VERLYN KLINKENBORG
Sitting down in a shop on 43rd Street is as much about grooming as the spontaneous moment of confidentiality with the man in the mirror.

Morning-After Pills (NYT)

16 year olds left in lurch

The Food and Drug Administration has wisely agreed to let 17-year-olds have access to emergency contraceptive pills without a doctor’s prescription.

Horrors! A Handshake! (NYT)

a few games of 3-card monte on the street would be good too.

President Obama has pledged to mend relations with Latin America; the handshake with President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela was a good start.

Holding Up the Housing Recovery (NYT)

the new cause and effect: anything goes with anything.

Republican senators need to understand that a vote against bankruptcy reform is a vote against economic recovery.

Building in a Vacuum (NYT)

copy editor at work

By COLIN BRODERICK
Having witnessed the economy floundering from Belfast to the Bronx, the guillotine has yet to drop in New York.

Israel Cries Wolf (NYT)

sand-into-glass solution rejected out of hand

Barack Obama should view Benjamin Netanyahu’s fear-mongering over Iran’s nuclear ambitions with skepticism, rein him in and pursue Washington’s opening toward Tehran.

Medically Assisted Torture (NYT)

grammatical ambiguity nearly suggests investigating terrorists

A full-scale investigation should be conducted into the abusive practices against terrorism suspects and the medical personnel that facilitated the torture.

Hold the Line on School Reform (NYT)

more recesses less homework

Education Secretary Arne Duncan needs to tighten the preliminary eligibility guidelines for schools to receive federal stimulus money.

Columbine Plus 10 (NYT)

government fears citizens

The massacre in Binghamton, N.Y., is yet another reminder of America’s terrible gun problem and a summons to lawmakers to insist on common-sense gun laws.

Listen (NYT)

indifference anticipated

By VERLYN KLINKENBORG

Perhaps there is no recovering those emotions one feels when hearing the Beatles for the first time, but hopefully the release of the revitalized Beatles catalogue will come close.

Bubbles Sparked

Today's WSJ asks the financial question: ``What sparks bubbles?''

Stopping ‘Stop-Loss’ (NYT)

it's in the contract, and it's a volunteer army.

but a weaker military is always good.

The stop-loss program, which forces soldiers to remain in the military after their enlistments end, should only be used in unique circumstances.

Mr. Obama and the Rule of Law (NYT)

NYT salaries set

Some of the Obama administration’s statements on issues like state secrets and detainees sound a bit too close for comfort to the Bush team’s benighted ideas.

Fresh Food for Urban Deserts (NYT)

vegetable stamps

Michelle Obama should add her powerful voice to local efforts aimed at bringing fresh groceries into poorer neighborhoods.

While Mr. Perry and Mr. Jindal Fiddle (NYT)

refusing and putting deplored

Republican governors who refuse federal aid rather than expand state unemployment insurance programs are putting ideology ahead of the needs of their constituents.

The Fed Does Battle, Again (NYT)

competence overlooked

This crisis is unlikely to turn around until President Obama is more forthright about the depth of the banking system’s problems and follows through on his housing plan.

The Whale Road Nearby (NYT)

mammal budget threatened

Budget cuts on a program to listen to endangered whales in New York waters mean a loss of valuable research data and the possibility of putting the mammals in harm’s way.

It’s the Regulations, Not the Regulator (NYT)

zeal deplored

The financial crisis is not just the result of a missing regulator, but also deregulatory zeal that eclipsed rules and regulations — and the very will to regulate.

The Grievance Committee (NYT)

grammar crisis

by Gail Collins
Anger is in. Hope’s so January. And saying your mad doesn’t count, President Obama. Nor does constructively channeled anger. It’s like diet pizza.