One steps from the shadows

Last night on 24 we saw someone finally "put all his cards on the table", that of course being the Clint Howard of Jack Bauer, Graem. He finally began to show the man we've seen before this season and doesn't appear to be acting anymore around his family. Which, although we are very saddened that Donald isn't playing Jack's father, the decision to have James Cromwell to play his father is genius. I have always been a fan of his work and it's nice to see 24 grab an actor who is famous but not that famous. I think he is a great addition to the show and we will really dig into Jack's family life and find out how he turned into the Batman without a Cape and Cowl.


Courtesy of The New York Times:

President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health, safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy.

In an executive order published last week in the Federal Register, Mr. Bush said that each agency must have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee, to supervise the development of rules and documents providing guidance to regulated industries. The White House will thus have a gatekeeper in each agency to analyze the costs and the benefits of new rules and to make sure the agencies carry out the president’s priorities.

This strengthens the hand of the White House in shaping rules that have, in the past, often been generated by civil servants and scientific experts. It suggests that the administration still has ways to exert its power after the takeover of Congress by the Democrats.

The White House said the executive order was not meant to rein in any one agency. But business executives and consumer advocates said the administration was particularly concerned about rules and guidance issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Yes, it is that kind of thing about the signing statements and the like that scare the ever living shit out of me, and should scare the Republican minority cause if the trend continues they won't have the oval office or Congress in 2008 and there will be nothing to stop the Democrats from instituting their "Un-American" values.

I have to go to a farewell luncheon today, I shall have more once I return.