David Neiwert

It turns out that isn't the only prominent Republican with hands stained from their dealings with the murderous and wretched military junta that rules Myanmar. So, it turns out, is the man chosen by John McCain to run the Republican National Convention.

Today in the superb and lively Digby-hosted FDL Book Salon featuring Harry Reid, the Senate Majority leader was asked: Senator, are you planning to hold hearings on the illegality of the Pentagon’s propaganda training program of retired military officers that was recently exposed by the New York Times and Glenn Greenwald? Reid replied:

The answer is yes. I have personally spoken to Chairman Levin and he is tremendously concerned as I. And we are proceeding accordingly.

Normally, if it isn't the president himself making denunciations as Laura Bush's tut-tutting the Myanmar regime -- and we can understand why Bush wouldn't be eager to get up on a podium and denounce another government for its lack of responsiveness in the face of natural disaster -- it's a cabinet member, most often the Secretary of State. Where was Condi? Well, Condi is almost certainly the source of the problem here.

It's become apparent that the Bush administration, since the defeat last year of immigration-reform legislation, has completely capitulated to the GOP's rising nativist element. The result has been a harsh series of raids that have had the effect of terrorizing the Latino community.

Something Rush said this week does reflect his leadership in an undeniably real political trend: the return of race-baiting as an acceptable form of discourse. It happened when he was being interviewed by Fox News about Hillary's suggestion he has a "crush" on her -- during which, he said he mistook the mayor of Los Angeles for "the shoe shine guy." Nice.

CBS: Almost oooops Indiana (99% reporting): 51% Clinton 49% Obama North Carolina (99% reporting): 42% Clinton 56% Obama So Hillary wins Indiana, at the almost-complete count, by 22,439 votes. The flip didn't quite occur, but I'll bet they were sweating at CBS, which called the state for Hillary waaaay too early.

Sure seemed strange for a victory speech to me. But that's just me.

I know, I know. Hillary's victory speech in Indiana tonight was not a concession speech. She vowed to keep fighting on. Florida and Michigan and all that. But it sure sounded, and looked, and felt like a concession speech. The thank-yous. Bill crying. The resigned tone. She certainly didn't sound like someone who was fighting any longer.

It's looking like Gary, Indiana, could play a significant role in the campaign, because the results coming in from that corner of the state will determine the final margin of Hillary Clinton's CBS-declared victory there. And county officials say that results there won't be available until midnight CDT at the earliest.

Shortly after CBS News projected Clinton the winner in Indiana, Obama essentially conceded the state in his speech to his supporters in North Carolina. But he also jabbed Clinton for declaring last week that North Carolina would be a "game changer" in the race.