What Caught My Eye Today

Economy - This stunt, and it is a stunt in every sense of the word, is mind boggling. A handful of Republican governors are considering turning down some money from the federal stimulus package, a move opponents say puts conservative ideology ahead of the needs of constituents struggling with record foreclosures and soaring unemployment. Though none has outright rejected the money available for education, health care and infrastructure, the governors of Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alaska, South Carolina and Idaho have all questioned whether the $787 billion bill signed into law this week will even help the economy. You have got to be kidding me. Some have speculated that these moves are motivated by potential ambitions for higher office. Call me crazy, but I'm not sure I want to vote for someone that is going to turn down free money. As it turns out, a lot of state legislatures might be just as insane as me. Governors who reject some of the stimulus aid may find themselves overridden by their own legislatures because of language included in the bill that allows lawmakers to accept the federal money even if their governors object. Let the games begin. To heck with those pesky taxpayers in dire need of financial assistance. Political intrigue is so much more entertaining.

Afghanistan - The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan offered a grim view of military efforts in southern Afghanistan, warning that 17,000 new troops will take on emboldened Taliban insurgents who have "stalemated" U.S. and allied forces and predicting that the bolstered numbers of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan — about 55,000 in all — will remain near those levels for up to five years. Thank goodness the economy is in the toilet, otherwise we'd need have enough voluntary military recruits sign up for this mess.The increase in troop levels is only about two-thirds of the number of troops requested to secure the war-torn nation. Yeah, this looks real promising, don't it? But wait there's more 'good' news. Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan said, "...victory, as defined in purely military terms, is not achievable, and I cannot stress that too highly." I get the feeling that Holbrooke is more of a glass half-empty sort of fellow. Still, no one will accuse him of sugar-coating the situation in Afghanistan.

Pope - Pope Benedict XVI received Nancy Pelosi, one of the most prominent abortion rights politicians in America, and told her that Catholic politicians have a duty to protect life "at all stages of its development." The Vatican's attempts to keep the Pelosi visit low-profile displayed its obvious unease with the new U.S. administration. Benedict and former President George W. Bush had found common ground in opposing abortion, an issue that drew them together despite their differences over the war in Iraq. The meeting in a small room off a Vatican auditorium after the pope's weekly public audience, was closed to reporters and photographers. The Vatican also said — contrary to its usual policy when the pope meets world leaders — that it was not issuing either a photo or video of the encounter, claiming the meeting was private. Let's talk about that protecting life thing shall we? I remember reading someplace that one of the costs of war is loss of life. Funny how the current administration's efforts to end war seem to have fallen on deaf ears at the Vatican. Why cannot the Catholic Church focus on the spiritual needs of the people rather than butting into the realm of politics. You know, maybe if the Vatican focused more on that, fewer people would opt for abortion. No, that's just crazy. It's much more effective to to tell people what they can and cannot do. Relying on people to exercise moral judgment would be far to risky.

Cycling - Mark Cavendish won the mountainous fourth stage and Levi Leipheimer moved closer to his third straight Tour of California title after finishing in the pack. Cavendish edged Tom Boonen by less than half a bike length in the 115.4-mile road race from Merced to Clovis. Juan Jose Haedo of Argentina was third. Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, who began the day in fourth place, also finished in the main field. Armstrong remained 30 seconds behind Leipheimer. The bigger news is that neither Leipheimer or Armstrong crashed or had anything stolen from them for the first time since the race began. In fact, Lance Armstrong’s time-trial bike was found four days after it disappeared from the Team Astana truck after he used it before Stage 1 of the Tour of California. Apparently more than 900 people had enlisted in a search for the bike through a Facebook group "1 Million Citizens Looking for Lance Armstrong’s Stolen Bike." 900, huh? A bit shy of 1 million, but I suppose it was the thought that counted.