Charles Krauthammer writes about the perverse logic put forward by the Attorney General as a justification for trying KSM in a civilian court, but trying other terrorists in front of military tribunals. I pity anyone who has to serve on the jury for this trial.

Despite the fact that polling data shows a majority of Americans are against the health care reform bill (at least to the extent that they understand it), Majority Leader Reid has scheduled an initial vote on the bill for tomorrow night. I stand by my initial prediction that nothing of substance will pass (and it still has a long way to go, as there will be more than one vote in the Senate, there is the possibility of a filibuster that could stall action indefinitely, and even if they can get something that will get 60 votes, they then have to reconcile it with the House). If something does pass I expect the negative aspects of the new law will be more visible and more quickly discerned than anything positive, which will drive even more people to vote against the Democrats in 2010. Jay Cost highlights one of the most important negative aspects of the bill, which is the fact that Medicare spending will be cut substantially. Cost believes, as a political matter, the Democratic leaders have gone mad.

Even though I disagree with Paul Krugman on many issues, check out this column. Krugman asserts that the way in which the Feds bailed out Wall Street to avert a complete financial meltdown was such a sweetheart deal for the bankers that the average voter no longer trusts government (if they ever did) to solve the problem. I think his political analysis on this question is exactly correct.

Here is a plea for Moon colonization, now that NASA scientists have discovered water in sufficient quantities on the Moon's surface. I agree entirely. If our species is to survive, we must not keep all our eggs in one basket.

Ralph Peters is unhappy with the generals, who he says are not giving the President all of the options for Afghanistan.

Tony Blankley says if we are not in it to win it, we should bring the troops home.

Nicholas Kristof says the Republicans are on the wrong side of history when they oppose universal health care.

George Will is intrigued by the possibility of the states passing constitutional prohibitions that would short circuit any big Federal health reform plan.

Some Democrats are finally getting the message about Independents, who are moving in droves away from them.

Victor Davis Hanson says the sharks are circling as they smell American blood.

A new poll shows the only way Americans want to pay for health care reforms is to tax the wealthy. "We won't tax you, we won't tax me, we'll tax the man behind that tree".

Speaking of taxes, John Stossel says the out-of-control spending is worse than the taxes.

Economist Nouriel Roubini believes unemployment is getting worse, and expects it to reach at least 11%.

Vermont's Socialist Senator, Bernard Sanders, wants to cap the interest rates on credit cards, but he is being opposed, not only by Republicans, but by Democrats. Meanwhile, President Obama is talking tough on the issue (as usual) but doing very little.

Major Hasan wanted some of his patients tried for war crimes based on the stories they told him during their therapy sessions.

It is never too early to start speculating about the 2012 race. Here are the GOP dark horses.

Jay Cost takes a deeper look at President Obama's job approval ratings.

Meanwhile, a new poll shows the President's job approval below 50% for the first time, and it show support for the war in Afghanistan dropping below 50% as well.

Liberals continue to obsess about female Conservative firebrands. I hope this continues, because the more energy they spend examining these women and their more provocative comments and political positions, the less energy they will have to recognize the real danger they face, which is the tsunami of Independents which will sweep the Democrats out of office next year. These Independents are not concerned about the sometimes radical positions taken by these women, or any other GOP office holder, or even the 'Tea Party' organizers, most of whom are not Republicans. They are concerned about unemployment, which is heading for double digits. They are concerned about the weakness of the dollar, the huge government deficits that will lead to spending cuts and tax increases, the inability of President Obama to show strength to our enemies, real and potential, the increase in government intervention in all areas of our lives, with the usual foul-ups that follow (H1N1 vaccine, anyone?). These are the things that will drive Independents to the polls, and into the arms of the GOP (unless there are viable alternatives on the ballot, which in most cases will not exist). I say that as a warning to Republicans. These Independents are not all of a sudden embracing the GOP and its positions, they are rejecting the Liberal extremism of the Democrats in Congress, and the incompetence and weakness of the President.

Pat Buchanan makes the most cogent argument I have read yet against bringing KSM and other terrorists to trial in a civilian U.S. courtroom. It all boils down to the question of whether or not we are at war with Al Qaeda and their allies, or are they simply a band of criminals, however deadly.

Governor David Patterson of New York, no doubt concerned about poll numbers which show him on the political chopping block, announced yesterday his opposition to trying terrorists in his state.

Here is a shocker...international inspectors strongly suspect that the Iranian government is hiding more nuclear facilities. Only fools, Europeans (except President Sarkozy of France) and President Obama can believe that the Iranians are doing anything other than playing for time to finish their nuclear weapons program.

Dear Coach Belichick...the Greeks called it Hubris. I wish I had gone to bed at halftime.

Why Chimerica was a Chimera, and how it could make the world economic situation even worse. I expect the Chinese to continue on their 'beggar thy neighbor' course, and I expect the Obama Administration to keep playing right into their hands.

Robert J. Samuelson continues to bang the drum about the lies, falsehoods and half-truths that mark the so-called 'health reform' debate. In the end, our political leaders gain more in the short run with their lies and obfuscations than they would by telling us the unvarnished truth, which we do not want to hear.

In a dramatic example of the major philosophical difference between Liberals and Conservatives on the issue of Islamist terrorism the Attorney General of the United States has announced that Khalid Sheik Muhammed and some other Al Qaeda types who planned the 9/11 attacks will be tried in a Federal courtroom in New York. President Obama and his people believe that terrorism is a criminal justice matter, not an act of war, as George W. Bush and his people believed. Therefore, this decision makes perfect sense. Like so many of his other decisions, this one will be judged by the American people, who will render their initial verdict in November, 2010. I am pleased that we are seeing some real differences on this crucial issue, as well as on government spending and intervention, taxes, health care, and the like. I hope the leaders of the GOP will present candidates who represent a real choice for the electorate.

Some new evidence indicates that the mini-Ice Age that hit Europe 12,000 years ago happened within a year, not over decades, as previously thought.

The Lcross mission, which sent a satellite plunging into the surface of the Moon, discovered a significant amount of water just under the surface. Now we know that we can put a colony on the Moon without having to lug all our water and fuel with us. If only we had the political will to spend the money to achieve that goal (I would argue that it would be a tremendous stimulus program, far more productive and economical than the pork-laden stimulus plans we have seen recently).

North Korea continues to do what it does best...issue threats.

Michael Barone looks at more bad poll numbers for the Democrats.

Check out this video re-creation of the dramatic flight of a civilian aircraft into the Hudson River following a bird strike. They use the real audio from the flight as part of the presentation, and I am amazed by how calm Captain Sullenberger remained throughout the flight. He is one of those guys they refer to when they use the phrase, "the right stuff".

The Boston Globe editorial staff is happy to see Lou Dobbs out at CNN. They also praise the decision by the folks at CNN to emphasize 'straight news'. I'm tempted to laugh at that one, but the real problem is that CNN will continue to fall in the ratings if they continue that approach.

It seems that the President is growing more concerned about the debt and deficits, according to this story. I suspect this is more about politics than anything else, and besides, it's too late. He has already cast his image as an out-of-control spender, and stories like this one just emphasize the point. Politically, the President is not helped by his allies in Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is looking at raising taxes.

There are more bad signs for the economy out there, like this one about dwindling reserves as the Federal Housing Administration.

Charles Krauthammer joins the chorus of those who, correctly in my estimation, are warning about our inability to call the Fort Hood massacre by its proper name, a terrorist attack unleashed by an Islamist fanatic who just happened to be a Major in the U.S. Army (and I am bitterly disappointed in the people who run the Army for their inability to shake off the shackles of political correctness, even when lives are at stake).

Jonah Goldberg examines the political ramifications of the Fort Hood shootings.