Pajamas Media

Last-Ditch Campaigning in the Icy Iowa Holiday Fog

Once upon a time, the "early" Iowa and New Hampshire voting happened in February. With this year's unprecedented January 3rd date, last-minute campaigning - and polling - is happening in holiday season. PJM Monday Morning Quarterback William Bradley describes how this is making everything - and everyone - a little crazy.

The FARC Farce: Starring Hugo Chavez, Directed by Oliver Stone

Chavez's "hostage rescue" underway in Colombia is sure to give Stone great footage of the Venezuelan leader's finest method acting, writes Bridget Johnson. But it's the behind-the-scenes cooperation between Chavez and the Colombian leftist guerillas that is truly worth watching.

The Princess Diana-ization of Benazir Bhutto

Pass the dramamine, says PajamasXpress blogger Roger Kimball and asks: “As the pious cataract of eulogies for Benazir Bhutto accumulate… which of these cringe-making hagiographical exercises is the worst?”

Kimball has a winner.

Week 50 in Progress

Over 130,000 votes have been cast in the weekly PAJAMAS MEDIA PRESIDENTIAL STRAW POLL. The thirty-ninth week has officially begun.

NEW DEAL: Pajamas Media editors have noted that the number of weekly votes in our poll has diminished drastically from the tens of thousands cast at the outset. For months now, many readers have been complaining to us about the increasing inutility of the poll because of vote-swarming by second tier candidates. Many voters have lost interest and are not participating. Websites that had run our widget were no longer doing so.

Something needed to change.

Therefore, especially since the campaign itself appears to be narrowing its focus to front-running candidates, henceforth the Pajamas Media Poll will be restricted to those first tier candidates listed on the front poll page of the leading online poll aggregator Real Clear Politics. As of now, that is four candidates on the Democratic side and six on the Republican. We will change our lineup on the Sunday after RCP does, if it does.

DON’T FORGET: You can put the poll on your website or blog with our free voting widget and become a precinct in the Pajamas Media Straw Poll. Learn how the readers of your site are voting and compare it the the total.

Bhutto’s Murder: A Political and Cultural Honor Killing

Benazir Bhutto was the first woman Prime Minister of a Muslim nation and symbolized an unacceptable form of female ambition and achievement for many in the Muslim world. Phyllis Chesler contends that Bhutto was deemed too modern and too Western, and was sentenced to death for this sin.

Meanwhile, in North Korea…

While the world is focused on Pakistan, Claudia Rosett reminds us that the deadline for North Korea to come clean on its nuclear program is fast approaching (two days) with next to nothing out of the NORKS. The State Department – who brokered and trumpeted this “deal” – has little to say about this oversight, but the Rosett Report has plenty.

Brits, Betrayal, and Babies: New Movies for the New Year

The quality holiday fare keeps on coming to the movie theaters and PJM's David Freeman once again picks out the gems and makes his Oscar predictions. His favorites this week include Atonement, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, and Juno.

Hollywood Writers’ Strike: 78 Notes from the Sidewalk

When writing partners Elizabeth Hackett and Hilary Galanoy chose Paramount Studios as their picketing location on the first day of the WGA strike, they looked forward to meeting single men and rubbing elbows with A-list writers. The screenwriters forgot all about ninety-five degree weather, scruffy guys and having to walk in a circle for 12 hours.

What’s So Special about Iowa and New Hampshire?

Why do two states that account for a total of 11 electoral votes hold so much power over the nominating process? That's just one of the many things muddling Burt Prelutsky's mind.

Jailing Victims of Fatwas – For Their Own Good

In an attempt to protect high-profile Muslim and ex-Muslim dissidents who have had fatwas issued against them – Taslima Nasreen or Ayaan Hirsi Ali, for example – the “good” people have at times been forced to jail them, not their attackers. Phyllis Chesler asks: “Where will this end? With all the ‘moderate’ and dissident Muslims and ex-Muslims in jail?”