In providing a clue to one of the Constitution quiz questions on Monday, I incorrectly described George Mason University as “a small university that made an improbable run to the Final Four in last year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament. ”
As alert readers Christ Truscott and David Inman noticed and pointed out to me, I was wrong. George […]

Good Thursday morning Fellow Seekers,
The mainstream accounts of the failure of Sen. Jim Webb’s amendment all emphasize that it fell four votes short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a GOP filibuster. But if the goal is really to change administration policy in Iraq, this threshold is greatly overrated, because President Bush would have vetoed the […]

Good Wednesday noon Fellow Seekers of Wisdom and Truth,
Paul Krugman, the economist and New York Times columnist, has just launched a new blog called “The Conscience of a Liberal,” which is also the name of Krugman’s forthcoming book, and was the title of Paul Wellstone’s last book.
Krugman decided to launch with this graphic…

Despite many requests, and a promise to publish any response she decided to make, U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose declined to comment directly to Black Ink about the federal Office of Special Counsel investigation of her leadership of the office.
But she did release a statement to the Associated Press that reads, in full:
“Since the matter is […]

The federal Office of Special Counsel is investigating allegations that Rachel Paulose, U.S. attorney for Minnesota, mishandled classified information, decided to fire the subordinate who called it to her attention, retaliated against others in the office who crossed her, and made racist remarks about one employee.
Paulose did not return phone calls seeking her comment. Black […]

The Associated Press is reporting that U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad will shortly announce that he will not seek another term.
Ramstad, 61, a moderate Republican representing the suburban Third Congressional District, is in the middle of his ninth term. Ramstad, who once described himself to me jokingly as a RINO (that’s “Republican in name only) was […]

(If you’re joining us late, today is Constitution Day. The previous post asked a serious question about how the Constitution fits the exigencies of the moment. But, as promised this morning, this more frivolous post will give you a chance to test your knowledge of the history of the U.S. Constitution. A link to the answers is at […]

Good Monday morning Fellow Seekers,
(Don’t be confused by the jocular tone just below, this post poses a serious question.) 
If you don’t know what day this is, you’ve already missed the first question of the quiz I plan to post after lunch. But I’m not going to count it off your score, since this is just the warm-up.
Answer: Today […]

Good Friday morning Fellow Seekers,
In his address to the nation on Thursday evening, President Bush attempted to do something that even his own lawyers will not assert is within his power: To impose an indefinite commitment to his Iraq policy on his successor.
“Iraqi leaders from all communities… understand that their success will require U.S. political, economic, and security […]

Fellow Seekers, 
Black Ink will be silent until sundown in observance of Rosh Hashanah. I plan to watch Pres. Bush tonight and look for something blogworthy to say.

Dear Al Franken,
Why did you support the Iraq war at the beginning? Why did you trust Colin Powell on the weapons question and not Hans Blix? And when did you change your mind? And why? And what U.S. policy do you favor now?
I ask you these question in an open letter because you have declined […]

Hold onto your hats ladies and gents.
The AP is reporting that Bush will announce in a Thursday evening address to the nation that he agrees to Gen. Petraeus’ suggestions.
(updated to add link. eb)

… but he got a non-answer.
(this post has been updated with more precise quotes based on an unofficial transcript of Coleman’s exchange with the witnesses, eb)
Coleman said that what the American people want and need and don’t have are “objective measures of progress” toward the U.S. goal in Iraq – military progress, governmental, either or both – that can be […]