God's Right-Wingers

Good Morning. Several new items today...

• This is the week of the Iraq Study Group's coming out party. The talk shows are lined up, smoke and mirrors at the ready. And Orientalist studies are about to get a new boost. Oh Edward Said, where art thou? See "Iraq Sullen Group..."
  

• Is it a civil war yet? The question now applies to Lebanon. A Letter from Lebanon evokes one mother's desperation with two years of dashed hopes. See "A Mother's Rejection..."
  

• It's down, it's not dead: America's religious right can always find creative ways to remind us why regression is always around the corner. Pierre's two-part series explores how: First, through the Christian Coalition's firing of Florida Rev. Joel C. Hunter in "The Christian Coalition's Error." Second, through the continuing slander of Enlightenment ideals, this time, ironically, by way of genital-mutilation apologist and Allan Bloom wannabe Richard Shweder. See "Mutilating God, Genitals and the Enlightenment."
  

• Time to play: Is George W. Bush the worst president ever?

The best books of the year, the Supreme Court hits the bong, Germany's Patriot Act, a blogosphere round-up and plenty more in Candide's Daily Journal, slightly improved for ease of browsing. Thanks for reading. Spread the word.pt