A Roundup of Today's News -- With Comics

It was so much fun meandering through the news yesterday that you almost knew I'd be at it again today.

Dem. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid seems willing to say or do anything to ensure that the Iraq war is ultimately lost.  Captain's Quarters has done a fine job of identifying five of the myths that Harry Reid is spreading about the Iraq war.  Of course, it's a given that Reid will point whichever way the wind blows, to hold onto his power. 

It's hard to find anything really amusing about Harry Reid, the Democratic Party, and their current stance on the Iraq war, but Michelle Malkin has somehow managed to turn it all into a cheer.  Enjoy!  Video here.

Of course, the left in America is nothing if it's not idealistic.  The problem is that in the real world, positive feelings do not accomplish a whole lot.  It's like trying to "end genocide in Darfur" with "a day of films, discussion and dance."  As Dave Calder points out at Uncorrelated, it usually takes something a whole lot more forceful.

It's no surprise that Donald Trump has something to say about Rosie O'Donnell's departure from The View.  Trump says in an interview with People magazine that O'Donnell's ratings were declining.  A People editor interjects in brackets that the ratings for The View during February sweeps were "up 15 percent in key female demographics compared to last year."  While this may be true, it isn't what it seems to be at first glance -- a direct refutation of what Trump said.  Absent are any comparison of The View's ratings from one month to the next, and any mention of overall ratings.  It focuses narrowly on "key female demographics" as "compared to last year."  I have no idea whether The View's ratings were actually rising, declining, or staying the same -- and I don't have the inclination to take time to research the point -- but it seems odd that The View qualifies its positive statement about ratings by limiting it to a particular female demographic -- key or not -- and by comparing the ratings only to last year.

I'm no fan of Alec Baldwin's politics either, but I've avoided commenting on his rage-filled telephonic rant at his daughter because there's no point in piling on when the man has purely personal problems, particularly when it means dragging a child further into an embarrassing public spotlight.

But now Baldwin reportedly told Rosie O'Donnell in a taped interview that he tried unsuccessfully to get out of a contract with NBC so that he can leave the country.  This after having parted ways with his major Hollywood talent agency Creative Artists Agency this week, just after Baldwin's rage-filled phone call to his young daughter surfaced in the media.  Baldwin also reportedly said in the same interview with O'Donnell that he's lost interest in acting and doesn't care if he's ever on TV again.  All in all, things do not look good for Baldwin's current mental and emotional state.  It looks as if he needs help, and one hopes that his friends will try to help him get it.