July 21, 2006 - Pensito

26 Sep, 2026

Condi Explains Why She’s Waited to Get on a Shuttle to the Middle East

July 21, 2006July 21, 2006 Jon Ponder

Back in the 1970’s, when the Middle East erupted and threatened world peace, Sec. of State Henry Kissinger went to the region and shuttled back and forth between Israel and her neighbors, attempting to broker a peaceful resolution.

Who could have ever predicted we’d one day have an secretary of state who would make Kissinger look appealing?

That person, Sec. Condoleeza Rice, is on television right now answering critics of Pres. Bush’s do-nothing approach to the current crisis. Her reason for dithering while Haifa and Beirut burn?

Hezbollah is bad.

We’ve heard a lot about the end of Bush’s “cowboy diplomacy.” Apparently, their new approach is “stupid cowboy diplomacy.”

Quote du Jour

July 21, 2006 Buck Banks

Day: July 21, 2006

Condi Explains Why She’s Waited to Get on a Shuttle to the Middle East

Quote du Jour

We cannot extend our trade further than we are able to defend it. Rivalries that begin in commerce end on battlefields.

— Republican Party national platform 1920

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.