The C-Word

At National Review, James Robbins picks up on Jonathan Chait's possibly-tongue-in-cheek New Republic column about bringing back Saddam Hussein:

"Everyone agrees that radical de-Baathification was a blunder, so why not try radical re-Baathification? You want order? Saddam invented it. A bulwark against Iran? He's your guy. Plus, this time around he'll be grateful and cooperative. If not, we hang him. The people? They will be so shocked and awed by the turn of events they'll meekly reassume their traditional roles. No more random killings in the streets, but focused, systematic and orderly massacres in freshly dug pits. No foreign terrorists coming and going as they please, but only doing so on Saddam's orders. Oil exports up, American troops out. It really would be an ideal solution, if it weren't for all those lives we sacrificed on our journey back to square one.

"Even if we declare the democratic experiment dead and seek regime re-change, I do not understand the fascination with Saddam per se. There have to be many dictators in waiting out there, why bring back one who most likely will be very angry at us for all the trouble we put him through? Saddam does not do gratitude. If you want a strongman, wouldn't it be much easier just to hand the reigns over to someone else? Sure, Saddam has a proven record of accomplishment, he knows how to use a political party ruthlessly to dominate a government apparatus and establish totalitarian rule buttressed by secret police and an effective cult of personality, but these days who doesn't?"

Nancy Pelosi has decided she doesn't need the headache of naming an impeached former judge to head the Intelligence Committee--not after the ethics fuss kicked up by her effort to push Jack Murtha as her deputy.

"Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that she would not name Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.) as the next chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, creating new uncertainty around one of the chamber's most important leadership positions," says the L.A. Times. "The possibility that Hastings would get the post created a torrent of criticism, especially because Pelosi pledged to lead 'the most honest, the most open and the most ethical Congress in history.' "

Alcee Hastings issued a statement saying: "Sorry, haters, God is not finished with me yet." Earlier, he attacked bloggers.

You may have heard about this poll of "likeability" of politicians, as recounted here by Reuters:

"Democratic Sen. John Kerry, mulling a second bid for the U.S. presidency, finished dead last in a poll released on Monday on the likeability of 20 top American political figures.

"Among those placing ahead of Kerry were about a dozen potential 2008 White House rivals, including Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona."

Which prompts Michael Crowley to ruminate under the headline "AMERICANS KNOW WHO HE IS, AND HAVE PRETTY MUCH DECIDED THEY DON'T LIKE HIM":

"Hard to see how John Kerry runs for president again.

"I honestly feel bad for the guy. Maybe he can hunker down and find a second act, like Ted Kennedy after his presidential ambitions died, as a productive and venerated senator."