What Caught My Eye Today

Middle East - The United States will try to close an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before President Bush's term expires, giving the administration a little over a year to help the two sides craft a resolution to one of the world's longest and most intractable conflicts. The United States is hosting Israeli and Palestinian leaders Nov. 26-28 for talks in Washington and Annapolis at which senior officials and diplomats from 46 other nations and groups are also expected to attend and endorse the resumption of direct negotiations. The Bush administration believes the Annapolis session will be an important launchpad for talks to settle the conflict over land, nationhood and rights that underlies Israel's other problems with Arab neighbors. I applaud President Bush for his uncharacteristic choice of diplomacy over 'shock and awe' and hope he is successful in brokering a deal that everyone can live with. Unfortunately, his track record in nation building isn't that stellar. But, hey, maybe this time will be different...We're doomed! Doomed, I tell you! Doomed!

Pakistan - The government freed more jailed political activists today and a senior official said President Gen. Pervez Musharraf might step down as army chief this weekend, moves that could blunt opposition threats to boycott parliamentary elections. It remained unclear, however, when Musharraf might lift a state of emergency that has worsened Pakistan's political turmoil just as the government confronts rising Islamic militancy. The United States and other Western nations are pressuring him to end emergency rule if he hopes to repair his bruised credentials as a democrat and a reliable ally in the fight against international terrorism. Call me crazy, but I just don't trust the guy. Dude claims that freely contested elections will be conducted in January. How freely contested could they possibly be with most media outlets basically under 'house arrest'? And what's all this talk about Musharraf's bruised credentials as a democrat. Boyfriend is in charge of the friggin' military. Where I come from, if the head of state happens to be the ranking military general, we have a different term for it, and it isn't democrat.

2008 Presidential Race - New Hampshire set its earliest-ever presidential primary on Wednesday, deciding on Jan. 8 and claiming its traditional spot as the nation's first in a nomination season pushed almost to New Year's Day of the election year. The decision ends months of speculation, including the possibility that the state might actually move its primary into December to keep its spot at the head of the line. Iowa, which chooses delegates with a caucus system, begins five days earlier on Jan. 3. New Hampshire primaries often have shaped presidential contests — sometimes dramatically — for nearly a century. Next year's early date, less than seven weeks from now, resulted from states around the country scheduling their own early primaries and caucuses to attract candidates before the major party nominees are chosen. As a result, both the Democratic and Republican nominees are likely to be effectively known by Feb. 5, when 22 states vote, if not earlier. Frankly, I could care a less at this point. I'm already a casualty of voter fatigue. At least, we're finally going to get on with primary season in just a matter of weeks. Maybe if we're lucky the nominations will be known by early February. Maybe, just maybe we'll get a momentarily breather from all the campaigning before the big tamale starts. Aw hell, who am I kidding? Let's crank up the volume on those campaign machines.

Economy - A new survey finds that higher prices for gifts and rising energy costs are expected to put a damper on the holiday shopping season. Some 35 percent of consumers said they plan to spend less than they did last year.

Yeah, no kidding. Like we need a survey to point out the obvious. But why stop here? How about some more good news...

Wall Street resumed its slide today as unease about the wilting mortgage market and the broader economy triggered selling ahead of the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. The Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Dow Jones industrial average each fell by more than 1.5 percent, with the Dow giving up more than 210 points. The decline in the S&P 500 left the index in negative territory for the year. The stock market has been thrashing about recently as investors attempt to gauge how companies will fare amid a further slowdown in the U.S. housing market, a deterioration of credit and record oil prices that crested above $99 a barrel ahead of today's session. Including today, stocks have fallen in eight of the 11 last sessions.

Well, maybe the Federal Reserve can figure out this mess...

The Fed's minutes from its last meeting called its last rate reduction a "close call," but the central bank's economic forecast seemed to imply it is willing to keep lowering rates. Wall Street is fairly confident the Fed will lower rates at its Dec. 11 meeting to keep the tight credit markets liquid, but it is uncertain about the health of the economy

Well, apparently not. Well, Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. At least we have tomorrow to give thanks for all the things that really matter...you know, like football.