What Caught My Eye Today

Pakistan - A suicide bombing in a crowd welcoming former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto killed at least 126 people, shattering her celebratory procession through Pakistan's biggest city after eight years in exile. Officials at six hospitals in Karachi reported 126 dead and 248 wounded. It was believed to be the deadliest bomb attack in Pakistan's history. An estimated 20,000 security officers had been deployed to protect Bhutto and her cavalcade of motorized rickshaws, colorful buses, cars and motorcycles. At the risk of stating the obvious, I don't think the extra protection helped much. And another thing, if this sort of thing happens during a triumphant homecoming, what kind of reaction can Bhutto expect when the day comes that she isn't so popular any more? And you can bet that day will come sooner or later.

Congress - Hold on to your hats, folks. The Democratic-controlled House failed to override President Bush's veto of a politically popular children's health bill--I know, shocking isn't--and the White House instantly called for compromise talks on a replacement. The maneuvering followed a 273-156 vote that left supporters 13 short of the two-thirds majority needed to prevail in a bruising veto struggle between congressional Democrats and a politically weakened Republican president. It was Bush's third veto of the year. He has yet to be overridden, although Democrats say they will succeed in doing so on a water projects bill that soon will go to the White House. Call me crazy, but I'm not sure a President who has never had his veto overridden and has spent the past year pretty much doing what he's always been doing, despite the fact that the Republican party lost control of both the House and the Senate, can be characterized as 'weakened.'

2008 Presidential Campaign - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said that immigrants living in the U.S. illegally would not be covered by her proposed universal health care plan. Clinton said she supports basic health services for illegal immigrants, including hospitalization and treatment of acute conditions. But she said the magnitude of the nation's health care challenge means her universal coverage proposal would not cover the 12 million people living in the country illegally. Maybe I'm missing something here, but are illegal immigrants covered by any sort of health plan now? I'm not sure I understand why this is newsworthy.

France - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Cecilia have divorced, ending rampant speculation about the state of their 11-year old marriage. It was the first time in modern French history that a serving president has divorced his wife, and Sarkozy's reaction to the split will come under intense scrutiny. Cecilia played a crucial role in his rise to power, serving as an adviser during his previous stints as interior and finance minister. Sarkozy himself vaunted their relationship, telling aides she was "the only non-negotiable part" of his career. Gushing media compared France's first couple to America's glamorous John and Jackie Kennedy, but behind the glossy exterior, there were clear signs their marriage was flailing. Cecilia played no public part in her husband's election campaign this year, did not vote for him in the second round and only appeared fleetingly alongside him at three public engagements since his May victory. Why do the French have to complicate things so much. Heck look at the roller coaster ride the Clinton's have endured. When Bill was President, sure he engaged in a little something-something on the side, but from where I sit, things haven't turned out too badly for Hilary. Girlfriend, has a pretty good shot at snagging the Oval Office next year. And you just know that she's gonna get some payback.