Don't Believe the Hype
News networks are starting to report the capture of a high-level terrorist operative by the Pakistanis, shockingly, surprise, just before Kerry is to give his speech. Months ago, Josh Marshall told us that was in the works, a "July surprise" story covered by the New Republic also, back in May. Make no mistake about it, the political arm of the White House (do they have another arm?) is behind this. Will news networks give us the real story here as reported months ago, that the Pakistanis were told to come up with a big arrest during the first 3 days of the Convention? Josh sums up this embarassment of a government (follow the links for the earlier reporting):

This is just the latest, but perhaps the most blatant, example of how this administration has placed politics and, really, political dirty tricks above national security itself, and along the way persisted in defining political deviance down until tactics we used to associate with banana republics start to seem commonplace here.

While I've mentioned the Kerry speech, I have read that it will run 55 minutes. Eeek! I've heard Kerry speeches, and I was hoping for 25 minutes, maybe 30 tops. Theresa gave a damn long one that clocked in at 26. But 55? What are they thinking?