Giuliani, Gagarin, and today's items

Giuliani writes about My four pillars of American prosperity

1. Reduced spending growth.
2. Lower Tax Rates.
3. Regulatory Reform.
4. Sound monetary policy.

Read it all.
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The Kremlin has vetoed a move to launch a fresh investigation into the death of Yuri Gagarin. Gagarin, the first man in space, died in 1968, and the Kremlin's still covering up.

I must remember to ask Maria if there's a word in Russian for "transparency".
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Following Second bloggers' conference call with Sen. John McCain, I found this article at Opinion Journal, McCain's Finest Hour
Leadership sometimes means bucking public opinion

The difference is not merely of consistency but of conviction. Mr. McCain is making clear he understands that leadership is often by nature unpopular. He has been equally clear about the consequences of U.S. withdrawal from Iraq--"chaos" and "genocide" were among the scenarios he painted for Mr. Pelley.

He has also shown that he understands the moral obligation his vote authorizing the war entailed, which was to see it through to victory, or at least until the conclusion becomes inescapable that victory is impossible. With General David Petraeus only recently installed in Baghdad and his surge strategy not yet fully under way, Mr. McCain realizes that we are nowhere near being able to draw that conclusion.

Betsy comments,

What struck me is how the media coverage is so set on framing McCain's speech as a political move. The first paragraph of the Washington Post article frames McCain's speech as an attempt to save his faltering campaign

The WaPo is wrong, and McCain is acting out of conviction.
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In a lighter mode,
You might be able to legally download Beatles songs; here's why.

And don't miss the WaPo's Peeps contest: "No more wire hangers!!" (#15)