The politicalization of the Justice Department's civil rights unit keeps going and going...

By Diane Silver

The news just keeps getting better and better (note sarcasm) about Bradley Schlozman, who briefly served as U.S. Attorney in Kansas City.

During his tenure as head of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, Schlozman hired and fired based on political affiliation, and apparently just being a Republican wasn't enough. Experience and competence also seem to have meant little.

The Washington Post has the story. Watching Those We Chose follows up. As always the most up-to-date information on the continuing saga of the DOJ is Talking Points Memo.

Iraq & the logic that dare not speak its name

By Diane Silver

Josh Marshall over at Talking Points Memo writes today:

For all the endless debate about strategy and tactics, past and present about Iraq, it is astonishing how little the public debate in this country entertains the idea that the occupation itself is the cause of the unrest and violence in the country.

This isn't an original and unheard of concept. I know that. Indeed, it's common sense. But in our public debate it is what we might call the logic that dare not speak its name.

Marshall may well be right. His post is an interesting read.

In This Moment's Pamela K. Taylor made the same point in January in President Bush's Iraq Plan.