I'm sure there are those among his family and friends who mourn his death, and for them I have sympathy. For Murtha himself, however, I have none. He was as corrupt as they come, and his efforts to convict the Haditha Marines before they'd even had a trial was an absolute disgrace and a betrayal of the Corps he once proudly served in. With John Murtha's death, the health of the republic improved, even if just a little bit.

Looks like it's true. O'Keefe is cooperating with the Feds: http://tinyurl.com/yaglzxv

Of course, ACORN and their defenders are all over this claiming vindication, when the alleged crime and ACORN's criminal activities are two separate matters. O'Keefe may have turned out to be a schmuck, but what he uncovered is nonetheless real, and he did a valuable service in exposing it. It's a crying shame if he spoiled his legacy, however... Not to mention potential time in the slammer.

I think hubris finally caught up with Mr. O'Keefe.

Dumb. Very dumb.

"California has the 4th-highest unemployment rate, a $21 billion budget deficit, and a severe water shortage, so, what do lawmakers do? Pass a law that will fine restaurants $1,000 for using margarine in their foods."

Or find new ways to spend money we don't have to serve non-essential purposes, all so the legislator can look good back home, such as my favorite: Assemblywoman Fiona Ma's successful struggle to create a blueberry commission (with requisite six-figure salaries). Because, as we all know, blueberries are critical to California's recovery: http://tinyurl.com/y8zwjxs .

Good luck in your race with Barbara "Check Bouncer" Boxer, Chuck. We need you there before she can decide Ma had a great idea and blueberries are a pressing national issue.

Aw, man. If this is true, then several executions are in order.

Nah. I bet Obama would give the system a solid B+.

Great speech, with only one or two flubs. Unlike any other potential 2012 candidate I've seen, she's a plain speaker like the last great Democrat, Harry Truman. And she's an unabashed believer in our national greatness, like Ronald Reagan. I have no doubt she knows how to create jobs, and I know she won't take any crap from our enemies (unlike a certain Divine Savior elected in 2008.) If she decides to run in 2012 (and tonight's speech tells me she will), I will be quite happy to knock on doors for this woman.

I was reacting to Shapiro's specific comment:

"Rear Window makes one reach for the fast-forward button."

I disagree with his other remarks regarding Hitchcock, too, but this one specifically made me think "WTF?"

Hitchcock? Are you nuts? Sure, some of his movies haven't aged well, but Rear Window is a masterpiece.

There was a time when the Times was a good, informative paper -- I can just barely remember them. But I stopped subscribing years ago when I finally noticed so many of the same problems Patterico saw. I miss reading a good newspaper, but I don't miss the Times as it is now.

Very moving. Thank you for sharing this with us, Michael.