Tory Leader, David CameronThe Conservative Party in Great Britain elected 39 year old David Cameron as its new leader. Cameron is the party’s fifth leader since Margaret Thatcher who was forced to step down in 1990 by her own Party members. The Tories have lost the last three elections. Cameron calls himself a "modernizer" and has borrowed a page out of the George Bush political playbook by styling himself a "compassionate conservative".

Cameron had his first "exchange" with Prime Minister Tony Blair Wednesday in the House of Commons. BBC reports on Cameron’s first day at Tory leader.

Our guest national security analyst, Steve D, is not particularly thrilled with Cameron’s emergence as the new leader of the Conservatives in Great Britain. Here is his take on Cameron:

"The Tories are so desperate to regain power that they are willing to abandon what remains of their roots and principles in order to promote themselves as compassionate, chic, and progressive. This is known as trying to be more Left than the Left. If you read what Cameron is advocating, it is substantially the same as what Labour has been giving Britain under Blair, which has not been fundamentally different than what the Tories had been delivering – an effort to carry the unimpressive record of John Major even further, chasing the Labour and Liberal Democrats in their retreat from Thatcherism. Why the British would elect a very inexperienced left-leaning Conservative when they can elect a more experienced left-leaning Labourite is a mystery. Unless, of course, the Conservative "inner circle" is viewing the next election as a beauty contest between two substantially indistinguishable alternatives, and they are nominating the person most likely to come across looking like a telly actor portraying a prime minister."

When you "act" as though you ae happy and healthy ... when you put a spring in your step, a smile on your face and a song in your heart ... you actually become happier, healthier, more likeable, promoteable and successful! It's called the "as if" principle ... try it ... and experience the difference!

Howard FinemanHoward Fineman, senior political analyst for Newsweek and MSNBC, said in Dallas this past Friday that special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is still likely to indict Karl Rove, although readily acknowledging “I can’t prove it.” Speaking to the annual meeting of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association at the Intercontinental Hotel in Addison , Fineman stated that it was very unusual for a witness, like Rove, to appear four separate times before a federal grand jury. Also, if Fitzgerald was completely through with the investigation there is no need to impanel a second grand jury. Although admitting that all of these theories amounted to speculation, Fineman observed that based on his experience in Washington the Valerie Plame “leak” investigation is far from over. When it will end, no one can say for sure at this time.

On other subjects, Fineman told the lawyers that Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito would be in for a long hard nomination battle, but that such a battle would ultimately work to the administration’s benefit and likely harm the Democrats in the long run. He stated that Rove could well be laying a trap for the Democrats which would harm them in the upcoming mid-term congressional elections. However, Fineman said, that ultimately the 2006 elections would depend on how the war is going in Iraq . If the war is going poorly, then Democrats will pick up congressional seats. However, if it appears that progress is being made, then the Republicans will not be damaged all that much.

Fineman explained that right now, the Republicans’ primary political problem can be summarized in two words “George Bush.” This fact is reflected, for example, in the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race. Last week President Bush campaigned in Pennsylvania , but the Republican incumbent Senator Rick Santorum was nowhere to be found. Fineman pointed out that other Republicans in tight races around the country are trying to distance themselves from the President and his policies. Today, the President’s coattails appear to be almost non-existent.

Commenting on Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha’s call for troops to be brought home from Iraq , Fineman said that he believed that the administration is now working on a plan to begin a drawdown of American troops, substantially reducing the numbers. Thus despite the ferocious attacks on Murtha, Bush is definitely moving toward Murtha’s position, although in a most covert fashion.

Sen. Lindsay GrahamAnother speaker at the lawyer’s meeting was South Carolina ’s Republican U.S. Senator, Lindsey Graham, who told the attendees that although he was a proud Republican, he thought his party’s attack on the jury system was terribly misguided. Further, he stated that his party had lost its way by focusing on trial lawyers as a political enemy. Graham noted the unusual irony that a number of Republican office-holders in Washington today are discovering the benefits of the 7^th Amendment’s guarantee of a right to trial by jury. He stated that some, hounded by scandal and grand jury investigations, were falling all over themselves trying to hire the finest Democratic trial lawyers they could find. Seasoned political observers listened carefully to the Senator’s speech and noted that Graham may well be positioning himself to run as a Vice-Presidential candidate with Arizona Senator John McCain. Senator Graham certainly did nothing at this gathering to discourage such speculation.

This report was filed by Dallas Blogger John Collins a former Chairman of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and Democratic Party leader.

UNT Provost Howard JohnsonThe University of North Texas voted “no confidence” yesterday in UNT Provost Howard Johnson. The “no confidence” vote by tenured and tenure track faculty was 356 to 135 (63% to 28%) with 63% of eligible voters participating.

Provost Johnson responded with an email sent late Tuesday. In that email the Provost said he had been listening to the debate leading up to the vote. He said he had heard “a need for greater campus-wide understanding about the goals for academic affairs outlined in the Academic Plan, and more discussion about what it will take for us to realize them.” He continued that he had heard a need for “more information, greater transparency and more faculty engagement In the decisions about the university’s future.

Johnson clearly has no intention of resigning his position and the faculty vote had no binding effect on the UNT administration. Johnson came under fire earlier this year when he was accused of having plagiarized parts of the University Mission Statement. His decision as Provost in 2004 to deny tenure to a group of 12 faculty members created a firestorm as many accused the Provost of changing the rules of the game after it had already been played.

After the news of the possible plagiarism broke the university’s leadership was criticized for failing to back Johnson who is black. Later Governor Perry and Chancellor Lee Jackson and other UNT regents and leader announced their support.

Like most universities UNT is undergoing significant changes as it tackles reduced overall funding, and the reallocation of budget to different disciplines. The administration is also moving to instill a more businesslike manner exemplified by a recent memo extolling teachers to look on their students as “customers.” The general reaction among the faculty has been less than enthusiastic and some feel the Provost may be bearing the brunt of a general dissatisfaction with the administration and the state’s political leadership.

How many people ever really go to www.dallascityhall.com and search for the Dallas Food Inspection scores for their favorite restaurant?  The folks at City Hall say they have no idea.  It is probably just as well.  It will take a bit of time to located and all you will get is a database of monthly reports listing restaurants in alphabetical order and showing their number grade. 

But now some enterprising entrepreneurs have created a Web site with the catchy name of Dallas Food Inspection Scores Database that actually makes finding out what you probably really didn't want to know fun to find.  First this site lets you see an average grade of all recent grades and tells you an establishment's highest and lowest grades over the period.  It also converts the number grade into a letter grade we can all relate to (although I bet a lot of restaurants are going to argue about this).  You can also do all manner of groupings:  by area, by grade and by type of restaurant.  Of course this isn't just about restaurants but about any place that serves food. 

The results can be surprising.  In most cases the fast food chain places get uniformly high marks.  McDonald's gets mostly high grades as does Arbys, Burger King and other similar venues.  Top line eateries like the Mansion and French Room are grade A across the board.  Alas, most of the burger and Mexican joints I favor are still open from force of habit I guess.  But frankly I don't care.  If you do, or if you just want something to do during an ice storm give this site a try. 

This isn’t one more disquisition on the emergence of “Happy Holidays” as a politically correct substitute for a quasi-theological salute like “Merry Christmas.”    This is a puzzled look at the puzzled state of the American mind and conscience in the Year of Our Lord -- excuse me, excuse me -- 2005.

Click here to read more ...

Lamar SmithGary Martin of the Washington Bureau of the San Antonio Express-News has an excellent article in that publication today about the divisions within Republican ranks over immigration policy. As Martin notes, President Bush’s proposed plan includes "a controversial guest-worker program" which many Republicans in Congress oppose. Even Congressman Lamar Smith who represents San Antonio and is a close ally of the President’s, is quoted as saying: "I have a hard time believing we will have a debate on a very controversial subject like a foreign-worker program during an election. It could well divide the country, as well as split the Republican base."

A number of Republicans in Congress led by Tom Tancredo of Colorado, favor a series of measures which would beef up border security without including "a temporary-worker program, which Bush says is essential to take pressure off the border and provide willing workers with employers."

Tancredo has been talked about as a possible Republican candidate for President in 2008. If he runs, he has vowed to make immigration reform and increased border security the central issues in his campaign. To read Martin’s entire article, click here…