If You Ask the Right Questions …

Will you get at least good answers? Allison Arieff addresses the housing issue in her New York Times' blog "By Design." What to do with all that construction? The housing bubble reveals itself as an oil spill on the land. Think of how much agricultural land was taken out of production. Think of the commutes and the amount of gasoline burned and the resulting pollution.

Where is the leadership that might have headed this foolishness off?

Through a Glass Darkly:

Did you catch President Bush's final news conference this morning? Yes, the man is leaving office believing he has saved the world for … something. Only the "elites" find fault, he asserted today. (You can read the Times' version here.)

Gaza about To Cool Off:

The New York Times reports this afternoon that Israel believes "Hamas [is] beginning to crack," while "Hamas leaders [vow] to continue fighting." My forecast is that things are about to cool down. Groups like Hamas always shout the loudest just before the end. However, that doesn't mean "peace in our time" in the Middle East. Until those folks are either all killed off or they actually have something to live for, something that gives them hope for their children, it will all just continue to blow up.

Roland Burris To Be Seated in U. S. Senate:

And he didn't have to pay the governor of Illinois a penny. But can he be re-elected? I'm guessing not. We'll see in two years, so stick around and pay attention. I'm guessing he'll make more noise as a legislater than law.