Monday digest

- The face of the blame America first crowd, above.

- More on the move in some British schools to drop the Holocaust from the curriculum, this time from Barry Rubin.

- Sensitivity for me, but not for you.

- This just in, from an MIT scientist: "Much of the alarm over climate change is based on ignorance of what is normal for weather and climate."

You don't say?

- Quiz time:

Who recently called Al Gore a "gross alarmist" on the issue of global warming?

A. Newt Gingrich, former Republican House speaker and potential Presidential candidate
B. Bill O'Reilly, populist Fox News talk show host
C. John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia
D. Dr. William Gray, emeritus professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University and closing speaker at this weekend's National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans

Answer here.

- I don't like it when politicians claim credit for a booming economy because I don't believe they can create growth, but instead, can only screw it up. That said, it's interesting to note that while unemployment in the United States right now is at 4.4%, a full percentage point lower than it was at the same point during the economic expansion of the Clinton years, the conventional wisdom is that President Bush is presiding over an almost-recessionary economy.

I wonder why that is. Could it be that economic literacy takes a back seat to good copy in the newsrooms of America?

And if you're going to play the income inequality/insecure middle class card, consider the story of this Georgia family, who takes home $850 per week and has to rely on government benefits to get by, notwithstanding the fact that they have a gas-guzzling minivan along with a pick-up truck in the driveway on top of cell phones and three kids (ages 6, 4, and 2 with another one on the way).

I'm not suggesting that the family mentioned above is typical or representative, but I think perhaps a hard-headed look at choices rather than circumstances would be advisable before wringing one's hands and pointing fingers in W's direction when worrying about how folks make ends meet.

- Iran has moved from arrogance to cockiness after Britain's limp-wristed performance concerning the captured sailors, and is brazenly sticking their finger in the West's eye concerning their nuclear program.

Surprised, anyone?