A QUESTION: Did CNN plant questions for Republicans, too?

UPDATE: Related item here.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Further thoughts on CNN.

MORE: Ouch: “From what I’ve seen, the Clinton campaign successfully neutered the Wolf last night.”

THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS ON FEMALE CONDOMS, but Michael Petrelis says something’s been left out: “Whether you’re a woman or a man who engages in sodomy, the pouch can also stop diseases from spreading through the back door.”

QUESTION FOR HARRY REID: “As the situation on the ground in Iraq continues to brighten, and a light begins to appear at the end of the war tunnel, is it the brightest thing in the world to starve the military at this juncture?” If, as seems likely, Iraq succeeds, Republicans will be able to say it was in spite of the Democrats’ efforts. If, as remains possible, it fails, Republicans will be able to say it was because of the Democrats’ efforts.

UPDATE: A clueless lefty reader emails to complain, so let me be clear: I don’t think this is a good thing. I think it’s a bad thing. I just think it’s evidence of Reid’s ineptitude, which passeth my understanding.

MORE PLANTED QUESTIONS FOR HILLARY? Really, this is another sad episode for CNN.

ARE YOU NOW, OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN, a member of the Republican Party?

A BIG WIN FOR THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION on the “state secrets” privilege.

EUGENE VOLOKH IS disappointed with Columbia’s faculty.

HOLD TIGHT, LONDON: Skinheads peeing into teacups. And something that sounds like a call to revolution.

UPDATE: More here.

FUND THE WAR by cutting pork. Sounds like a twofer to me.

RON SILVER, on politics and labels.

NATALIE PORTMAN IS all grown up.

FRED THOMPSON ON who should control the Internet. “My hunch is that we’d see the same level of management of the Internet from the U.N. that we’ve seen when it came to peacekeeping operations in Africa. Or its management of Saddam Hussein’s ‘Oil for Food’ program. Or its monitoring of Iran’s nuclear program.”

FROM GARRETT LISI, a simple theory of everything. Paper here. Will it pan out? Stay tuned.

POPULAR SCIENCE looks at the top innovations of 2007.

A COLUMBIA BUYOFF: “Five students drinking Gatorade and water for a week are apparently all it takes to bring a major university to its knees. Columbia has had more than its share of lunatic events this year – the noose, the cancellation of the Minuteman speakers for the second time, inviting and then abusing the Iranian madman, and last week another controversy over a biased comment someone had scrawled into a library book. But the collapse of the university in the face of five student hunger strikers – the number was reduced to two students before the university folded – makes all the previous lunacies seem sane.” I don’t think Columbia really minded.

NIGELLA LAWSON has a new cookbook out, focusing on quick recipes. I’m a big fan of her laid-back cooking philosophy — er, and of her — and I’ll probably order it. I’m watching her on TV now, and I wish we could snag her for a podcast interview.

UPDATE: I’m bumping this to the top again, in light of the email below from reader Sarah Wells:

I picked up this cookbook lately, and made several of the dishes, which are so lusciously presented and easy to make that I can see dangerous curves ahead for my wardrobe.

Another danger: I already find all sorts of gorgeous, juicy “Nigella-isms” melding into my speech, and things in general are oozing welcomingly; offering succor. Indeed, my husband approves.

One note – the baking recipes, simple as they are, I find are more consistenly and satisfactorily prepared when the UK gram and ml measurements are used. So I got online and transcribed some measurements straight into my cookbook along side the converted-for-US measurements printed on the page. ( A UK version of the book is available on Amazon, too.)

I have a chill that’s going around, and last night retreated to my bedroom, closed the door, and gave myself succor from a spoon with a roly-poly pudding from the book. A step up from Nyquil, I think, and is the best rescue I’ve ever had from the glottal wodge.

P.S. The ginger pear muffins were all that was promised.

Sounds yummy.

ANN ALTHOUSE WONDERS what Joe Biden has got against Justice Ginsburg and Justice Breyer.

I THINK THAT THIS OVERSTATES MY ROLE in promoting science fiction and fantasy — but I’m happy to get the free books!

WALTER RUSSELL MEAD: Jews and Wasps.

ELLIOT SPITZER, political genius!

IN THE MAIL: 211 Things a Bright Boy Can Do. Looks like fun, but judging from the reviews it’s not really for kids in the same way as The Dangerous Book for Boys or The Daring Book for Girls.

LOCAL WOMEN — including the Insta-Wife — share their lives one post at a time. Video at the link.

“KNOCK IT OFF:” Has King Juan Carlos started a trend?

SCOTT JOHNSON: “If my friend Rachel Paulose were a liberal Democrat, she would be a celebrity. Serving as the United States attorney for Minnesota, she is the first woman, the first immigrant (Indian), the first Asian, and, at age 34, the youngest attorney ever to hold the position. A graduate of Yale Law School, she has compiled an impressive academic record and stellar professional credentials. She’s not a liberal Democrat, however, she is a conservative Republican, and she has been the subject of an old-fashioned, low-tech media lynching.”

HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED: A report from Ramadi.