LAT helps Clinton campaign

The LAT today offers the everybody-does-it defense for Hillary Clinton's campaign, which is refunding $850,000 of donations raised by Norman Hsu, by reporting that other campaigns have had to return contributions from donors for various reasons, including because donors have exceeded legal limits. But no other presidential campaign has had a fugitive from justice raising money for it.

The Surge

Never at a loss for words, presidential candidate Joe Biden shot his mouth off yesterday on Meet the Press, arguing the surge has accomplished nothing. In this he is joined by such luminaries as Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. What need have we of generals and ambassadors and feet on the ground in Iraq when our national legislative branch includes such all-seeing, all-knowing seers?

LAT on secrecy

Only recently, we learned that a terrorist plot in Germany was discovered as a result of U.S. intercepts of telephone and e-mail traffic between terrorists. This morning, the LAT argues in an editorial that such intercepts ought to be stopped because they're done in secret. It's the only way such intercepts can be done. If terrorists know their communications are being intercepted, they'll use other means of communicating.

Bin Laden

A Bush administration advisor argues that bin Laden is "virtually impotent." John McCain and John Kerry argue it's vitally important that he be killed or captured.

A dead bin Laden, especially if killed in a firefight or bombing, likely would be considered a martyr by his followers and by Muslims around the world. A bin Laden in captivity would tempt followers to try to free him, possibly by capturing innocents in order to negotiate a trade. A free bin Laden hiding in caves in Pakistan is no martyr and perhaps embarrasses militant Muslims throughout the world.

LAT on Petraeus/Crocker report

General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are to report Monday on conditions in Iraq, both military and political. The LAT doesn't want to hear it. Instead, judging from today's editorial, the LAT wants a surrender plan -- how quick can we get out and how can we minimize casualties during withdrawal. And, the LAT warns: Don't listen to Bush.

Democrats, including the LAT, are getting desperate, fearing that Petraeus and Crocker will offer something positive.

LAT on jobs

The LAT never reported the good job growth of recent years but today reports the August decline in a headline on page 1. In a subhead, the LAT says "Democrats call for a Fed rate cut." Larry Kudlow has called for a Fed rate cut since July.

LAT reporter Peter Gosselin then reports the 81,000 downward revision for June and July and suggests that the economy was weaker then than previously thought. Maybe, but 2nd quarter GDP growth was recently revised upward to 4 percent, which is hardly recessionary.

The Petraeus Report

Democrats are anxiously trying to condition the nation to hear General Petraeus's report in the way they want it heard -- as just another of several reports containing nothing new about Iraq while reflecting Bush's view of the war's progress or lack thereof. They must do that or be rolled over like roadkill. If they expected a negative report saying the war was lost and the U.S. should quit immediately then they would be promoting the report as definitive and conclusive.